Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has directed the Heads of Administration in the state’s 23 Local Government Areas to take over the responsibilities of the outgoing council chairmen, whose three-year terms concluded at midnight on Monday. This directive, announced in a state broadcast on Tuesday morning, is in line with constitutional provisions aimed at maintaining peace and order in the state.
However, two LGA Chairmen, Dame Anengi Barasua Claude-Wilcox of Bonny LGA and Enyiada Cookeygam of Opobo/Nkoro LGA, have declared their intent to step down in accordance with the State’s Local Government Law of 2018. Both officials had contested the extension of local government chairmen’s terms in court, a move initiated by the Martin Amaewhule-led assembly. Following a government house event on Monday, they advised other LGA chairmen to adhere to the law and leave office peacefully.
In contrast, the chairmen of Akuku-Toru and Asari-Toru LGAs, Rowland Sekibo and Onengiyeofori George, have sought a peaceful resolution regarding the extension of their terms. Despite the State Assembly’s approval of their term extensions, they face protests demanding their departure as their terms were due to end on June 18, 2024. Both chairmen have urged their supporters to remain calm and avoid violence, noting that the issue is currently being addressed in court and is expected to be resolved soon.
They have also called on law enforcement officers to maintain peace and order, emphasizing that no group or individual holds exclusive rights to use violence in this matter.