On Monday, former council chairpersons from 21 out of the 23 local government areas (LGAs) in Rivers State led protests in their respective council areas.
This demonstration follows the directive issued last week by Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State, instructing heads of local government administration to assume control of the 23 council areas.
This directive came after the end of the three-year tenure of the council chairpersons.
Despite Governor Fubara’s directive, several former LGA chairpersons reportedly attempted to resume their duties at the council secretariats, only to be driven away by youths. This escalation has heightened political tensions across Rivers State, with residents protesting at various LGA secretariats.
In response to the unrest, police officers fired multiple shots to disperse the protesters at several LGA headquarters. Subsequently, the police have barricaded all 23 local government secretariats.
Among the protests, Onengiyeofori George, a former chairman, and his followers marched through Buguma, the council headquarters of Asari-Toru LGA, on Monday.
They sang songs in praise of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while holding posters with inscriptions such as “Sim Fubara Can’t Continue to Act As He Likes” and “There’s No Vacancy in Asari-Toru Council.”
These protests by the pro-Wike former LGA bosses defied an advisory issued by the Rivers police against such demonstrations.
In a statement issued on Sunday night, Grace Iringe-Koko, police spokesperson in Rivers, said the command received intelligence of a possible hijack of the protest.
“The police command respects the right to lawful assembly but has received credible intelligence indicating potential infiltration of the planned protest on Monday,” the statement read.
On Saturday, Clifford Paul, president of NULGE in Rivers, had given Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police, a four-day ultimatum to order officers to vacate the 23 LG secretariats in the state.
Paul had said the police siege at the LG headquarters has prevented NULGE members from accessing their offices.
Chioma Kalu
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