Rivers State was enveloped in apprehension yesterday following the eruption of violence in some local government secretariats.
Two people – a policeman and a vigilante squad member – were confirmed dead from the violence, which followed the face-off between warring political groups in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the tenure of the elected officials of the 23 local governments.
Relying on the Court of Appeal order, which specifies the sustenance of status quo until the hearing of suits on the matter slated for tomorrow, council chairmen and executives vowed to stay on for another six months according to the law passed by Martins Amawule –led House of Assembly.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s broadcast yesterday announced the exit of the chairmen and their replacement with heads of administration.
Youths poured into the streets to enforce the position expressed by the governor.
After an all-day brickbats between supporters of the two groups, the police last night announced that they had taken control of 23 local government secretariats.
The police confirmed that the two people were killed in Omuma LGA during a clash.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the killings, said an investigation was ongoing to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice.
Iringe-Koko said in a statement that the duo were killed during a bloody clash between supporters of two political groups at the council headquarters.
She said the police had now occupied the council secretariats to forestall violence.
The statement reads: “Following the breakdown of law and order in the various local government council secretariats in Rivers State where supporters of the two political factions clashed over the tenure of council chairmen, a case of death was recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a police officer and a vigilante were killed.
“To forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the police have taken over all the 23 council secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state.
“Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities.
“While urging all groups and individuals to be law-abiding, the Command also warns anyone who intends to cause mayhem as we will not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on them.
“We also wish to ask the law-abiding residents and visitors in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear. We are resolved to carry out our constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.”
Governor Fubara, who held a meeting with the various security agencies, vowed to resist any attempt to arrest any of his supporters.
Gunshots in Port-Harcourt council
Fear engulfed Port-Harcourt, the state capital, following sporadic gunshots at the
City Local Government along Moscow Road, which had been taken over by youths loyal to Fubara.
The protesting youths vowed to prevent the chairman and councillors from gaining access to the secretariat today.
The irate youths also resisted attempts by the police to disperse them.
Although police fired steadily into the air to scare away the youths, they remained unperturbed as they mounted canopies to lay siege.
The Chairman of the Port Harcourt chapter of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), Ranson Iyalla Opio, said the youths took over the gates of the secretariat because the chairman’s tenure had expired.
He said the youths would continue to occupy the place until the governor swears in a successor.
Opio said: “We’re here to take over the council following the refusal of the immediate past Council chairman, Allwell Ihunwo, to vacate office after the expiration of his three-year tenure on June 17.
“It is our civil responsibility to promote democracy. We are Rivers people. We’re Ijaw. We voted them into office and we will also remind them of the need to vacate office when their tenure expires.
“We will continue to occupy the gates until the newly appointed CTC members take over the office.”
One of the aggrieved youths, who spoke in confidence, said they were at the secretariat to carry out a peaceful demonstration against the local government chairmen, Allwell Ihunda.
He claimed that Ihunda had vowed not to vacate his office despite the expiration of his tenure, adding that the threat prompted them to mobilise to stop his bid to continue in office.
A protester, who identified himself as Ichemanti, claimed that one of the protesting youths was shot by the police.
But, Iringe-Koko denied the allegation, saying: “It is not the police that is shooting. Our men have been deployed already to identify and apprehend those disturbing the peace.
“As I speak to you now, the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police are on patrol. Policemen have been deployed there and they are visible.
“We will ensure nobody takes the laws into their hands under our watch.”
In Obio-Akpor, Wike’s council area, hundreds of the youths, led by Ihunwo Chijoke, an avowed Fubara supporter, took over the council secretariat.
The aggrieved youths smashed the windshield of the chairman’s car, forcing him to flee from his office
One of the youths said: “We have taken over the council. Wike must obey Sim. We are here with Chijoke Ihunwo to totally take over the council.”
At Eleme Local Government, youths invaded the secretariat, vowing to resist tenure elongation.
A community leader, Chief Ebieemere Gokpa, who addressed the crowd, claimed that the chairman had travelled to Canada.
He said: “We will remain here until the Rivers governor gives further directive.”
Youths loyal to Chibuike Peter and Gift Okere stormed the Oyigbo council secretariat, warning elected officials to steer clear.
In Ahoada East and Emohua councils, the youths said they would continue to keep vigil.
At Emohua council, one of the youths said the secretariat remained their collective property, adding that no single person should lay claim to it.
He said: “This council does not belong to Chidi Lloyd (chairman). It belongs to all of us. We don’t have electricity for three years.
“We are calling on the governor to integrate our council in his political movement. We are here. If you want to kill us, we are ready to die”.
At Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government, the youths who took over the secretariat said they would hand it over to the incoming interim management team.
At Asari-Toru, Ahoada East, Ogu-Bolo, the Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, who hails from the area, led youths to seize the secretariat.
But at Ikwerre Local Government, the Chairman, Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, secured his secretariat located at Isiokpo.
Ikwere youths loyal to Nwanosi vowed to resist any attempt by pro-Fubara youths to seize the secretariat.
There were repeated gunshots at the Isiokpo junction that compelled the management of the Wigwe University located in the area to ask workers to go home.
Tinubu should intervene, says Nwanosike
Nwanosike called on President Bola Tinubu to protect the constitution from undemocratic elements in Rivers State.
He accused Ehie of leading thugs to invade and loot the council secretariats, claiming that the thugs shot at the chairmen and killed some policemen.
Ehie denied the allegation, saying that he never mobilised the youths.
Nwanosike said: “Thugs led by the Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, are going from council to council, breaking secretariats, looting properties in the name of governing a state.
“We call on Mr President that this is the time for the constitution of Nigeria to be upheld.
“The governor has brought back full-blown insecurity into Rivers State.
“Ikwerre local government people will sit down and wait for the decision of the Court of Appeal that states clearly that status quo should remain.”
Fubara to set up caretaker committees
A source said Fubara had compiled the list of Interim Management Team (IMT) members for local governments to be forwarded to the factional House of Assembly, led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo for screening and confirmation.
Governor, security chiefs meet
Fubara, who held a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state, warned against what he described as a grand plot to arrest his supporters.
He said his administration would no longer tolerate the arrest of his supporters on trumped-up charges, adding that security agents must pass through him before undertaking such action.
The governor said he would ensure peace in the state and protect his supporters, who are defending the truth.
Fubara faulted the law extending the tenure of council chairmen, saying it is ambiguous and alien.
He said: “I am also aware that there is a grand plan to come and arrest some of our supporters.
“This time around, you have to pass through me to arrest them because I don’t think there is anything that any of those people following us has done. Rather, they are standing on the side of truth.
“If it will cost us our lives to stand on the path of truth, we will do that. And I will be the one that will lead the course.
“Let me assure everyone, more especially, the great and peace-loving people of Rivers State, the law is the law. The law has said that there is no extension of tenure.
“The court said so, and whoever is assuring anybody anywhere of whatever, I advise them to desist from it because peace is what we need in this state.
“I assure every one of you that whatever it takes to make sure that we maintain peace and order, we are not going back on that.”
Fubara explained that he called the Security Council meeting because of the recent threat to the peace by the outgone council chairmen.
The governor thanked the media and people of the state for their support, and urged residents to remain law-abiding for the unity and progress of the state.
We will not abdicate, say Nwanosike, George
Nwanosike and his Asari-Toru council counterpart, Onengiyeofori George, vowed to continue in office despite Fubara’s announcement that the tenure of chairmen had expired.
George said the invasion of his council by gunmen meant that Rivers had become a Banana Republic.
He lamented that the peace that reigned in the state during the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike had been shattered.
George wondered why militants were allowed to storm council secretariats with arms looking for chairmen to chase away.
He said: “I saw a situation where unconventional gunmen turned to special squads moving round the council areas. That is the state we now live in.
“If the tenure of chairmen elapses, is it unconventional gunmen that will come and chase the chairmen away?”
George lamented that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) could not access the local government in the Kalabari area.
Describing Fubara as a man with a knife and the yam, he called on the governor to abide by the law.
He said Fubara, who failed to appeal the judgment of Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court, only approached the state High Court to obtain an injunction.
Nwanosike commended the police for their role, saying without them, the situation would have been worse.
Nwanosike added: “We are still council chairmen until a court of competent jurisdiction says otherwise.
“We will obey the police and leave the councils for now because we are law-abiding people.”
<<The Nation>>