Former local government chairmen in Rivers State have issued a warning to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, stating they will return to their offices if he does not comply with a recent Supreme Court ruling against the use of caretaker committees to manage council affairs.
These ex-chairmen, who support the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, expressed their frustrations during a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Friday. Dr. Chidi Lloyd, former chairman of Emohua LGA, stated that they had been waiting patiently for Fubara to honor the court’s decision, but he continues to work with caretaker committees in the state’s 23 local government councils.
Dr. Lloyd warned that the governor’s actions could lead to unrest and urged national police authorities to intervene. He declared, “If this continues, we will return to our local governments and forcibly reoccupy the councils. We have remained silent because of our leader who advocates for peace. We elected him as governor, even when his local government produced less than 5000 votes.”
He also called on the police to act promptly, noting that the State House of Assembly had already contacted the Inspector General of Police and passed resolutions urging police action. He criticized the Rivers State police for delaying proper enforcement.
Lloyd also cautioned the caretaker committee chairmen to stay away from their project sites, warning, “Anyone who engages with them does so at their own risk. Any further impersonation will force us all into action, and we will then see what the Supreme Court has decreed.”
Hope Ikriko, the immediate past chairman of Ahoada West LGA, accused the governor of failing to maintain law and order. He said, “The people are agitated and call us daily. We are their voice, urging the government to act swiftly. The governor’s actions, like sealing off properties of perceived enemies, indicate he is not interested in peace.”
Ikriko also hinted at retaliatory actions, saying, “If the governor continues sealing properties, we will also target his properties in the old GRA.”
Allwell Ihunda, former chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government and immediate past chairman of ALGON in the state, emphasized that their briefing aimed to alert President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the judiciary, security agencies, and Rivers citizens to the state government’s disregard for court judgments from the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, dated July 4 and July 11, 2024, respectively.
Ihunda highlighted that the Supreme Court ruling confirmed the autonomy of local governments and abolished the governors’ power to appoint caretaker committees, as outlined in section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution. He lamented that while other state governors have begun complying with the court order, the situation in Rivers State remains unchanged. “The state government is promoting these illegal caretaker committees and allowing them to act as heads of the local government administration in the 23 LGAs,” he stated.
The Rivers Police Command had previously taken control of the 23 LGA headquarters due to the crisis over the chairmen’s tenure. Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun later asserted that the police would continue to occupy the councils until a court of competent jurisdiction provides a ruling on the matter.
