Tension is brewing in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State following the directive of Governor Siminalayi Fubara that Heads of Local Government Administration should immediately take charge of the 23 council areas of the state.
Effecting the state governor’s order, some armed security operatives and a crowd of youths besieged at the Port Harcourt City Local Government Council Secretariat on Tuesday morning and sacked the outgoing chairman of the LGA, Allwell Ihunda.
This is coming few minutes after Fubara gave the directive to the administration heads of council areas in the state due to the expiration of the three-year tenure of the elected local government chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors on Monday, June 17, 2024.
Fubara gave the directive in a statewide broadcast on Tuesday morning.
The broadcast was captured in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi, and made available to newsmen.
The governor said, “I wish to acknowledge and commend the dedicated services of the outgoing elected local government chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors who were elected and sworn in three years ago, and whose tenure expired yesterday the 17th of June, 2024, as provided for by the law.
“On behalf of the government and the people of Rivers State, I thank you all for your sacrifices and commend your commitment to public service and our dear Rivers State.
“I congratulate you all for the successful completion of your tenure and wish you well in your future endeavours.
“As we move forward in making sure that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is upheld, and that law and order is maintained as we continue to strive to provide leadership and direction for our people, I hereby direct Heads of Local Government Administration to continue to provide leadership in their respective local government areas.
“Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) are hereby directed to immediately take charge of the councils with renewed vigour and readiness to serve and await further directives as we navigate towards even greater accomplishments together. ”
The governor promised to continue to defend the people of the state and provide basic amenities for them.
He added, “I assure you, my good people of Rivers State, that we shall continue to defend you, provide infrastructural development, sound healthcare delivery, quality education and undiluted welfare service packages for all our people and workers.
“Once again, I thank you, my dear good people of Rivers State, for your steadfast support and dedication to our shared vision of unity, progress and prosperity.
Following the expiration of the tenure of the local government chairmen in the state, some youths in the Degema and Asari-Toru LGs of the state on Monday took over the council headquarters.
Also, there was a huge security presence in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area and Obio/Akpor LG to prevent security breaches.
Trouble started in Port Harcourt after a crowd suspected to be supporters of Fubara, accompanied by some security operatives bearing arms, sighted Allwell Ihunda while trying to gain entry into the council secretariat.
The crowd approached him violently and attempted to attack him before his driver zoomed off the premises while he was being chased away.
The youths, as sighted by The Point in a video clip, wondered why Ihunda showed up at the secretariat despite completing his tenure, warning him never to return to office.
While the feeling former council chairman was being chased, gunshots were heard as the chasers kept threatening Ihunda.
Meanwhile, the outgoing chairman of Eleme LG, Obarilomate Ollor, had warned those eager to throw him out of office not to come close to the council, saying they will be resisted.
