By Ayodele Oni

Piqued by violent protests in Rivers state, the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Dr. Kayode Egbetokun,  has ordered the  deployment of operatives of the Force Intelligence Response Team to assist the Rivers State Command in apprehending the killers of the police officer and the vigilante member.

The IGP condemned the recent outbreak of violence and subsequent breakdown of law and order at various Local Government Council Secretariats in Rivers State, where supporters of two political factions clashed over the tenure of Local Government Council Chairmen.

This, he said,  unfortunately led to the tragic deaths of a Police Officer, Inspector David Mgbada, and Samuel Nwigwe, a vigilante member at Eberi-Omuma in Omuma LGA.

A statement on Wednesday by the Force Spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated that: “In response to these heinous acts, the IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olatunji Disu, to heighten security measures across the state and institute thorough investigations into the killing of the police officer and the vigilante operative, as well as the general violence which erupted in the state.

“The IGP seriously warns individuals and groups of people who have a penchant for senseless attacks and mindless killings of police officers and other security operatives across the country to desist forthwith as the fullest force of the law will be meted on them.

“The CP has also been directed to focus on increased patrols, strategic deployment of officers, and enhanced intelligence operations to prevent further violence and ensure the safety of all residents.

“The IGP extends heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased police officer and the vigilante member noting that their dedication and sacrifice in the line of duty will not be taken for granted.

“The Inspector General of Police calls on all residents and political stakeholders in the State to exercise restraint and seek peaceful means of resolving differences.”

By Ayodele Oni

There seems to be crack in the newly constituted Caretaker Committee Members in Rivers State as former Gokana Council Chairman, Monday Dumiye, rejected his new appointment.

He was among the newly inaugurated members on Wednesday by Governor Sim Fubara.

In a surprise move, Dumiye, who once served as  caretaker chairman of Gokana Local Government Council and PDP chairman, publicly rejected his appointment as a member of the Gokana Caretaker Committee.

In a Facebook post, Dumiye stated, “I reject the offer in its totality.” He cited his previous experience as caretaker chairman of the council, saying it would be “disrespectful and belittling” to accept a lesser role as a caretaker committee member.

The announcement has sparked mixed reactions from the public, with some supporting his decision and others criticizing it.

By Ayodele Oni

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has called on the Federal Government to declare state of emergency in the state.

Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, made the call on Wednesday during a media briefing in Port Harcourt shortly after Governor Siminalayi Fubara inaugurated Caretaker Committee for the  23 Local Government Areas in the state.

According to him “Rivers State is at war. And the dramatis personae who are responsible for the mayhem that has claimed lives are known.

“The Governor is helpless, the Police is helpless. Therefore the APC in Rivers State is calling for a state of emergency in Rivers State as a way of taming the mayhem, the upsurge that is going on in the state. I call on the federal government to act fast in this regard.”

The call by the APC may not be unconnected with recent judicial pronouncements by courts on the status of the state House of Assembly.

The State Legislature has been divided into two with majority members pitching tent with the APC and only two still remain in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on whose platform they all won election.

The members who decamped to the APC had earlier granted extension of tenure for the former local government chairmen that were sacked on Tuesday by Governor Sim Fubara.

By Ayodele Oni and Suleiman Anyalewechi

The first task before the newly inaugurated Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State is to look into the accounts of the councils.

The State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, while inaugurating  the 23 Council Bosses in Port Harcourt on Wednesday ordered the audit of Local Government accounts in the State.

The Governor in an early morning broadcast on Tuesday ordered the elected Councils officials to vacate office as their three years tenure expired on Monday.

Some of the Chairmen who attempted to resume office, despite the Governor’s order were attacked by protesters who besieged the Secretariat to chase them out.

The swearing-in comes a day after the governor forwarded the list to the State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Victor Jumbo.

Former Rivers Assembly had passed the Local Government Amendment bill into law but Fubara failed to assent to the bill.

While the Governor did not sign the bill, the Lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule vetoed him.

The amended bill which the Governor failed to assent to empowered the Rivers State Assembly to extend the tenure of Council Chairpersons, their Vice, and Councillors where it is deemed impossible to hold elections before the end of their three-year tenure.

Before their eventual sack on Tuesday, some of the ex Chairmen loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike had dared Governor Fubara to sack them and see the consequence.

Meanwhile, Governor Fubara has charged the state Auditor General to  put machineries in motion to look into the  financial records of the  23 Local Councils.

The Governor who issued the directive during the swearing-in of the interim  Executives of the Local Councils said the audit which will cover the last three years is aimed at instilling financial sanity in the newly appointed Council officials

This is even as he urged  the Interim  Council Executives not to see themselves as a new set of Emperors ,but to use their new positions to serve the people.

He noted that the tenure of the Interim Management  will be short, as the process for the election of Council officials will soon begin.

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, swore-in appointed Chairpersons for the 23 Local Councils of Rivers State.

The swearing-in ceremony held at the Council Chambers of the Rivers State Government House.

This  followed the earlier screening and confirmation of the nominees  by the Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo led State House of Assembly earlier in the day .

The appointment of the Caretaker Chairpersons was sequel to the expiry on Monday June 17, of the three year tenure of the elected Local bosses .

The Source reports that before the appointment of the new interim leadership, Governor Fubara, had on Tuesday, June,18, ordered the Administrative Heads of the various Councils to take control pending further directives.

The 27 pro- Wike Lawmakers had earlier made futile moves  to elongate the tenure of the out-gone Council Head by six months.

The efforts could not sail through, owing to the refusal of an Appeal Court in Port Harcourt to overturn an earlier verdict of a Rivers State High court quashing the amendment to the State’s Local Council Laws by the 27 pro-Wike legislators.

It will be recalled that Justice Dagogo Jack of the State High court had,  in a ruling, declared the seats of the 27 pro-Wike Lawmakers vacant by virtue of their defection to the rival All Progressive Congress, APC.

They were sponsored by and elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.

The court also proclaimed all their legislations, including the amendment to the State’s Local Council Laws and subsequent elongation of the tenure of the out gone Council Executives illegal, null and void.

The refusal of the Justice Jimi Olukayode led three-man panel of the  Appeal Court to upturn the State High Court ruling on Friday June 14, resulted in the exit from office of the former Council Executives and the appointment and swearing-in of a caretaker leadership by the state Governor.

On Monday which marked the expiry day in office of the out-gone Local Council Chairmen, a number of them resisted and made to go back to their former offices. But they were confronted by hundreds of angry youths who chased them away. In Omuma Local Council, there were two fatalities- sadly a Police Officer and a member of a Local Vigilante Group.

In Obio-Akpor LGA, youths invaded the Headquarters  pulled down and smashed Wike’s statue placed prominently on the premises. Their collective chant: “We no longer want Wike here.”