There is continued tension in Rivers State as former council chairmen of 21 out of 23 local governments have taken to the streets, rejecting the takeover of their offices.
The protests, which began early this morning, have seen the former chairmen and their supporters waving placards with inscriptions such as “Police, continue occupying the councils” and “Sim Fubara can’t continue to act as he likes.”
The crisis in Rivers State deepened last week when the Police Command prevented some chairmen from accessing their secretariats, following a directive to take control of all 23 local government council secretariats.
In Buguma, the headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area (LGA), former Chairman Onengiyeofori George led a procession of supporters through the town’s streets, singing solidarity songs in support of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Meanwhile, in Abonnema, the headquarters of Akuku-Toru LGA, a group of protesters gathered to show their support for the police’s continued closure of the council premises.
The former council bosses are allegedly loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike.
Last week, Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to assume leadership of the council areas, following the expiration of the three-year tenure of elected chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors.
However, the former chairmen refused to step down, leading to clashes between supporters of the two political factions.
A recent court ruling had annulled the tenure extension granted by the 27-member Assembly loyal to Wike, recognizing a three-man House of Assembly loyal to Wike instead.
