Pro-Wike lawmakers seek arrest of Fubara’s CTC chairmen, members
The Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has called on operatives of the Nigeria Police Force to arrest persons parading themselves as the Caretaker Committee Chairman or member in the state.
During Monday’s plenary at the Assembly’s official residence, the lawmakers asked the police to immediately withdraw their personnel attached to the 23 persons.
The House Leader, Major Jack, brought the issue to the attention of the House, stating that the individuals appointed by Governor Siminialayi Fubara to man the council areas are illegally imposing and collecting fees, levies, and rates from unsuspecting members of the public.
He also pointed out that even after the Supreme Court ordered the governor to dissolve the caretaker committees, Fubara has failed to follow the order.
In a statement issued by the media aide to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu, on Monday, the lawmakers said, “The Rivers State House of Assembly, at its 7th Legislative Sitting of the Second Session of the Tenth Assembly, Monday, deliberated on a statement by the House Leader, Hon. Major Jack, wherein he drew the attention of the House to the illegal activities of some persons in the State, masquerading as Chairmen and members of Caretaker Committees.
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“These individuals go about imposing and collecting fees, levies and rates from unsuspecting members of the public, in breach of the recent Supreme Court judgement, and the provisions of the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment)Law, 2023 that prohibit Caretaker Committees in whatever guise or nomenclature.”
Debating on the statement by the House Leader, the lawmakers condemned and berated those they described as ‘impostors, and warned all banks, traditional rulers, government at all levels, non-governmental organizations and those doing business in Rivers State not to transact any business with unelected individuals parading as Caretaker Chairmen, as they are threats to the fragile peace in the State.’
Amaewhule expressed concern alleging that the committee chairmen are withdrawing monies meant for local government councils from banks and squandering them in the name of caretaker committees.
Furthermore, he urged the police and other security agencies to take action and arrest these impostors to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
The statement also quoted Amaewhule as saying that “the Tenth Rivers State House of Assembly in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered, only democratically elected officials are to manage the Local Government Councils.”
The statement added that Section 64(1) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018, further empowers the House to give the directive that only democratically elected officials should pilot the affairs of the Councils.
Reiterating the position of the House, the Speaker stated that the House would not fold its arms and condone the ‘crass disregard to the laws of the State and the judgement of the Supreme Court of the land by some impostors’.
