Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has revealed plans to establish alternative secretariats for 23 local government councils in the state. This move comes in response to the recent sealing of the council offices by the police. Governor Fubara emphasized that the parallel secretariats will ensure the continuity of administrative functions and public services within the affected councils.
Fubara announced that the 23 local government councils in the state will operate from alternative secretariats, following the police’s move to seal off the council offices on Tuesday. The governor made this declaration after swearing in the 23 local government caretaker committee chairmen on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, emphasizing that the councils could operate from any location.
This development comes as the newly inaugurated caretaker chairmen were barred from accessing their offices in all 23 local government headquarters by the police, who barricaded the secretariats with patrol vans manned by armed officers. The state police command had earlier announced their decision to take control of the local government council headquarters, citing the need to prevent further bloodshed and maintain law and order.
Fubara, while swearing in caretaker committee chairpersons and members for the 23 local government councils on Wednesday, directed the Auditor-General of Local Governments to commence immediate audit of the accounts of the 23 councils.
He charged the caretaker committee chairpersons to eschew violence, maintain the peace, and be guided by the constitution, to always promote unity, inclusive administration and achieve progress at the grassroots.
Governor Fubara asked them to ensure seamless administration of local governments following the expiration of tenure of elected chairpersons and councilors in the state.
The governor performed the swearing in at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt amid cheers, jubilations and commendations as the right step to douse the tension and bring everybody in the political space together.
The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, said the exercise demonstrated his administration’s commitment to upholding the tenets of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that does not provide for tenure elongation.
He explained: “What is happening here now is a defence of democracy. We will not allow the wrong precedent to be created in this country.
“It is not about Rivers State. It is not about Fubara. But if in any way this attempt of tenure elongation succeeds in Rivers State, it becomes a norm in Nigeria.
“So, we have taken it upon ourselves to say, not on our own watch will it happen because it is completely alien to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Governor Fubara wondered why the tenure of elected officers will expire and they want to perpetuate themselves in office against their oath of office and the provisions of constitution of Nigeria.
The governor clarified that any insistence to elongate tenure of council chairmen will not happen in Rivers State and advised the out-gone chairmen, vice-chairmen and councilors to let go and return home.
