The Police yesterday retained control of the 23 local government secretariats in Rivers State.
It was to prevent a further escalation of violence that broke out on Tuesday over the tenure of chairmen and councillors.
The caretaker chairmen appointed and inaugurated by Governor Siminalaiyi Fubara and protesting council helmsmen insisting on tenure extension were denied access to the offices.
The death toll from Tuesday’s violence rose to three yesterday with the reported death of an ex-student leader during the mayhem.
The dead are Police Inspector David Mgbads, vigilante member, Samuel Nwigwe, and Endwell Ejindu, a former student union leader.
Police Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun has ordered a probe into the killings.
Miffed by the violent protest, the All Progressives Congress (APC) urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers to restore order.
Force Spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said in a statement that men of the Force Intelligence Response Team(IRT) have been deployed to the state to apprehend the killers.
Adejobi said: “In response to these heinous acts, the IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Olatunji Disu, to heighten security measures across the state and institute a thorough investigation into the killing of the police officer and the vigilante operative, as well as the general violence which erupted in the state.
“The IGP has specifically deployed operatives of the Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to assist the Rivers State Command in apprehending the killers of the police officer and the vigilante member.
“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 Rivers crisis will today engage the attention of the Court of Appeal which asked all parties to come before it for consolidation of cases and hearing.
The caretaker chairman of Ikwere Local Government, Darlington Orji, said after being sworn in he moved to the secretariat so that he could in turn swear in the councillors but could not access the place because of police presence.
He said: “After our inauguration, I went to my council, Ikwerre, but I met security agents and barricaded council gates.
“When I enquired about their mission there, the police said they were acting on the orders of the IGP.
“I decided to withdraw to avoid any clash with the security agents.
“We’re working on it to clear the way for us to resume fully.”
Governor Fubara said the chairmen should operate from anywhere, adding that they had effectively taken charge of the councils.
The police in Rivers told our correspondent that they shut down the secretariats to prevent a breakdown of law and order and to keep the peace.
Tenure elongation wrong, says Fubara
Fubara, who justified the appointment of caretaker committees, said he resisted the pressure to extend the tenures of chairmen and councillors to prevent a bad precedent in the country.
He said it was wrong to keep the chairmen in office against their oaths, following the expiration of their tenure.
Fubara charged the caretaker committees to eschew violence and maintain the peace, adding that they should be guided by the constitution, promote unity, an inclusive administration, and achieve progress at the grassroots.
The governor directed the Auditor-General of Local Governments to audit the accounts of the 23 councils and submit his report to him within one month.
He said: “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 at tenure elongation succeeds in Rivers State, it becomes a norm in Nigeria.
“So, we have taken it upon ourselves to say, not under our watch will it happen because it is completely alien to the Constitution.”
Fubara added: “For those people saying the only reason they want to continue in office is that election has not been conducted, we have more than 85 per cent of the states in Nigeria that are being run by caretaker committees.
“Ours is different. You had your tenure, you have completed your tenure. It is proper you let go. Life doesn’t create a vacuum.
“If you are not there again, that is, if your tenure has expired, it doesn’t mean I should, because I want to please you, allow you to stay longer. No. It doesn’t happen like that.
“People must take over, manage the affairs and elections will be conducted.”
On the probe of the 23 chairmen, Fubara said: “I also want to say that, for the local government activities in the past three years, I would want to mandate, which is an official assignment, not even a statutory duty, that the Auditor-General should immediately commence the audit of the 23 Local Government Councils in the past three years, and come up with the result in the next one month.
“It is important so that we will know what has happened and how our funds were being used in those 23 local government areas. It is important so that it will be a check for those people who are also coming.”
Fubara said the tenure of the caretaker committees would not be too long because the process for the conduct of fresh elections had started.
He ordered them to resume at their respective local councils with the utmost sense of duty and commitment to serve the people.
Urging them to shun confrontation, Fubara said: “Whatever happened yesterday (Tuesday), I know and the world knows that it is not from you people. Some people caused it. So, let us not give them the opportunity to continue to make our state look bad in the comity of states.
“So, when you go back, if there is any situation, you should be law-abiding. I don’t want any confrontation.
“You can operate from anywhere for now. But the most important thing is that you have the control of the local government today.”
Fubara directed the chairmen to pay the outstanding financial benefits and entitlements, of the outgone chairmen, vice-chairmen and councillors.
He said: “I am not of the class to say that because something happened, you should maltreat them. No. Whatever is their entitlement, ensure that they get it.”
The governor expressed worry about what he described as the negative media portrayal of Rivers as a crisis-ridden state and urged them to change the perception.
He said: “I want to appeal to you that when you go back, I don’t want a crisis. Just manage the situation as much as you can. God does not start and end halfway. That is the truth. Since God has started with us, He will definitely complete His work in our lives.
“I don’t want any fight. I don’t want any life to be lost because it does not earn me anything. We know that we can overcome, and we have been overcoming.”
The chairmen are Madigai Dickson (Abua/Odual), Happy Benneth (Ahoada East), Daddy John Green (Ahoads West), Otonye Briggs (Akuku-Toru), Andoni, Reginald Ekaan (Andoni) and Orolosoma Amachree (Asari-Toru).
In Bonny, Alabota Anengi Barasua returned as chairman.
Others are Anthony Soberekon (Degema), Brain Gokpa (Eleme), David Omereji (Emohua), John Otamiri Nkugbo (Etche), Κenneth Kpeden (Gokana), Dr. Darlington Orji (Ikwere), Khana, Marvin Yobana (Khana), Chijioke Ihunwo (Obio-Akpor), Princewill Ejekwe (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo), Princess Ogan (Okrika), Promise Reginald (Omuma), Enyiada Cookey-Gam (Opobo/Νκoro), Gogo Phillip (Oyigbo), Ichemati Ezebunwo, (Port Harcourt City) and Matthew Dike (Tai).
The caretaker chairmen were cleared by the Victor Oko–Jumbo–led lawmakers.
APC calls for state of emergency
APC chided Fubara for being at war with himself, adding that only the declaration of a state of emergency can restore order.
Rivers APC Caretaker Chairman Tony Okocha told reporters that only the military can restore normalcy.
He said the governor had set the state on fire when he announced the expiration of tenure.
Okocha said: “Rivers State is at war. There is war in Rivers State and the actors are Sim versus Sim. Those are the dramatis personae in the war.
“We are in a state of war and because the governor does not listen to counsel, even the counsel of Mr President, for this reason, APC Rivers State that I represent today is demanding a state of emergency in Rivers State.
“It is the way out so that residents of the state will live in peace. I will be too late to cry when the head is off.”
He added: “The Federal Government should do what it has to do to ensure that the situation in the state does not degenerate to the point where we will be seeing fire everywhere.
“Also, considering the importance of the state to our economy, if Rivers State is in flames, our economy in the country will suffer, ence, the need to act fast.”
PDP urges calm, cautions APC
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged the chairmen whose tenure had expired to shun conduct likely to disrupt public peace.
Its Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement, urged the people of the state to opt for peace.
The statement reads: “The party notes that the three-year tenure of the former chairmen expired by the effluxion of time under the Rivers State Local Government Council Administration law.
“The PDP, therefore, counsels the former chairmen to desist from any action that may constitute disruption in local government administration.
“The party calls on the people of Rivers to remain calm, and law-abiding and continue to work together for the continued stability, peace and delivery of democracy dividends in Rivers.”
The PDP also warned the APC to stop fantasising about taking over Rivers State.
In another statement by Ologunagba, the party alleged a move by the APC to instigate a crisis in the state.
It reads: “The attention of the PDP has been drawn to yet another hallucinating press conference by the Rivers State Caretaker Chairman of the APC, Tony Okocha, wherein he again fantasised that the will of the people of Rivers as expressed in the governorship election which produced Governor Fubara can be upturned by the imagination of the APC.
“This reckless outburst by Okocha further exposes the sinister plot by the APC in Rivers which has been seeking ways to instigate crisis, forcefully overthrow a democratic order and impose an anti-democratic regime in clear violation of Section 1 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The use of the word ‘war’ by Mr. Okocha in his thoughtless statement clearly shows an evil intention which has been firmly resisted and will continue to be resisted by the people of Rivers.
“The APC in Rivers should note that its malevolent scheme to instigate crisis and forcefully take over the state has failed.
“Rivers is a stronghold of the PDP and the people are solidly behind the government of the PDP in the state.”
The party urged the Federal Government and the international community to view the Rivers APC’s position with seriousness.
“The PDP calls on the Federal Government and indeed the national leadership of the APC to, as a matter of urgency, rein in and caution Mr. Okocha to stop being an agent of destabilisation and a threat to democracy in Nigeria.
“Our party demands that the Inspector General of Police immediately invite the Rivers APC Caretaker Chairman and hold him personally liable for his utterances which constitute a clear and present danger to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria and to peace and tranquillity in Rivers.
“The international community should also take note of the reckless outburst of this individual whose actions and utterances are capable of negatively affecting the overall security of the country.
“The PDP for the umpteenth time warns the APC to perish the thought of forcefully taking over Rivers as its attempts to undermine the will of the people will always come to naught,” the statement adds.
‘Former student leader killed by cultists’
Ejindu was killed by suspected cultists and not protesters, Rivers Police Spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko, said yesterday.
In a statement, she said: ”Ejindu was attacked and killed in the late hours of Tuesday by gunmen suspected to be cultists.
”The murder of the victim is unrelated to the current political crises in Rivers.”
The former Student Union President, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, was killed along Ula-Upata Road, Ahoada East.
