By Cross Udo
The Rivers State Police Command yesterday took over the 23 local council secretariats over the succession crisis rocking the state.
In a statement by Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the command said the decision was taken following the breakdown of law and order in the various councils’ secretariat.
Iringe-Koko further cited clashes of supporters of the two political factions over the tenure of local government council chairmen and a case of death recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a police officer and a vigilante were killed as the reason for the takeover.
The statement read, “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”.
The state is currently engulfed in crisis, which has taken a dangerous dimension as the gladiators are heading for the broke spoiling for war.
The ongoing local government crisis rocking the state has claimed the lives of two security operatives, who lost their lives in the line of duty.
There have been multiple reports of shootings, notably at the Port Harcourt City LGA Council Secretariat and in other LGAs, including Obio/Akpor, Emohua, Eleme, and Khana, carried out by unidentified persons.
According to a source in Omuma, the conflict escalated when policemen attached to a local politician allegedly opened fire on vigilante members of OSPAC at the Omuma council secretariat.
This reportedly led to a deadly exchange where the vigilante group retaliated, resulting in casualties on both sides.
However, the crisis got to the head yesterday when the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in a state broadcast directed heads of local government administration to take charge of the 23 council areas of the state.
According to the governor, yesterday marked the expiration of the statutory three-year tenure of the elected chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors.
“Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) are hereby directed to immediately take charge of the councils with renewed vigour and readiness to serve and wait for further directives as we navigate towards even greater accomplished together”, the governor directed.
On the part of the local government chairmen, they remain unperturbed claiming that their tenure has not expired hinging their hope on the court ruling in the case involving the Martins Amaewhule-led House Assembly and the three-man-led House by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
The Governor convened a security council meeting with heads of security agencies following the political developments in the state.
The meeting was held behind closed doors at the Government House in Port Harcourt yesterday.
*CP cautions warring groups to obey court ruling
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, has assured the people of the state that he and his men won’t allow the crisis enveloping the Local Government Areas (LGAs) to lead to a breakdown of law and order.
The Commissioner told journalists at the police headquarters in Port Harcourt that the police are aware of the situation at the different LGAs and expect the different political players to respect the appeal and cease hostilities pending the hearing and determination of their case.
Disu warned that his men are equal to the task of securing the different council headquarters and won’t tolerate any attempt to disturb the peace in the state.
*End Rivers crisis now to move state forward, group urges Fubara, Wike
The People Petition Writers Association of Nigeria, P-PWAN, has commended President Bola Tinubu for earlier wading into the disagreement between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his successor in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Regretting that the President’s effort had not yielded the desired peaceful result, the group underscored the need for elders and traditional rulers in the state to come together to settle the rift between the two brothers.
A statement by P-PWAN President, Prince Elias Odoemena, said, “It is unthinkable, disheartening, shocking and sad that some elders in the state who are supposed to make peace now take the sides of either the governor or the immediate past governor which has worsened feud.
“Governor Fubara should remember how he started with Wike. Wike may not be his God but he was the instrument of God in his elevation to an enviable position of number one man in Rivers state today.”
It further said, “The governor should remember that when King David had the opportunity to kill King Saul he only cut part of his clothes which he regretted after even though his supporters and his followers wanted the outright kill of King Saul, your Excellency you knew the rest of the story.
“Your Excellency, forget those food-is-ready politicians that are coming to you now who are telling you do this to Wike and do that to Wike. Where were they when you and Wike had sleepless nights planning how you would become the governor of Rivers State.”
Odoemena called on Governor Fubara to refrain from investing all his strength and resources at his disposal in the fight against Wike.
“Governor Fubara should begin every day with prayers by thanking God for having Nyesom Wike in his life and at the end of your tenure, the people of Rivers state would thank God for having you as governor.
“I call on Nyesom Wike to make peace with Governor Fubara and help him in bringing federal government presence to Rivers state and shun any ill advice from anyone who wants the fight between two brothers to continue.”
