By Vincent Egunyanga, Cross Udo, and Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
Barely 48 hours after the conduct of the local government council election in River State, at least three LG secretariats were set ablaze by some unidentified hoodlums as the newly elected chairmen resumed work.
This followed the withdrawal of the police officers securing the 23 council secretariats by the Commissioner of Police.
The affected council secretariats were the Ikwerre, Eleme, and Emohua LGAs.
At Ikwerre, the newly built council secretariat at Isiokpo was set ablaze.
Similarly, at the Emohua Council Secretariat, it was learnt that some youths blocked the entrance by chanting songs.
Also, some parts of the Eleme local government area were set ablaze by gunmen believed to be political thugs.
There was also an unconfirmed report that one person was killed in the melee that greeted the State.
The lead-up to Saturday’s election was filled with drama, intrigue, and twists. There were also explosions, protests, and gunshots during that period.
*Tinubu sues for peace, asks political actors to de-escalate tension
In a swift reaction, President Bola Tinubu directed the Police to provide security to Rivers State local government officials to restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately.
While instructing law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, President Tinubu emphasised the need to ensure the security of public institutions.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said government facilities built with public funds must be safeguarded from vandalism.
He stressed that self-help has no place in a democratic system, especially after 25 years of continuous democracy.
According to President Tinubu, the judiciary can settle all political disputes, and the outcome of this election should be no exception.
The statement further read, “The President called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders, and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law.
“In response to recent tensions following last Saturday’s local government council election, the President expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the State.
“He urged all political actors to de-escalate the situation and discourage their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions.”
*Fubara, PANDEF react
In his reaction, Governor Siminalayi Fubara admonished Rivers people to carry out their political business responsibly.
He has also stated that the business of politics should not degenerate to the level of killings and destruction of government facilities built with taxpayers’ money.
Fubara made the assertion when he visited the Ikwerre council secretariat in Isiokpo to see for himself the level of damage after the council was set ablaze by political thugs.
The Governor visited the affected council secretariates after returning from Akwa Ibom State, where he joined other South-South governors and Nigerian Governors’ Forum members to sympathise with Governor Umo Eno on the demise of his wife, Patience.
He expressed sadness over the incident at the council, questioning the rationale for why the Secretariat, built by the immediate past Chairman of the council, which would serve as a legacy project, is being destroyed because of politics.
Meanwhile, an elder statesman and the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has appealed to all residents of Rivers State to give peace a chance and allow democracy to flourish in the local government areas of the State.
In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, Clark commended President Tinubu and Governor Sim Fubara for ensuring peaceful conduct of the council polls held last Saturday.
He pledged to continually support plans to entrench democracy at the grassroots level, bringing democracy closer to the masses.
“I join millions of Nigerians and the good people of Rivers State to thank God for the very successful, transparent, and peaceful local government elections in Rivers State on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
“I am happy that the citizens of the State turned out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote.
“The fact that a state-wide local government election can be conducted in a free, fair, and credible manner without the loss of lives and destruction of property is a remarkable experience,” he said.
“At the same time, I also thank His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for ensuring that the various security agencies exercised due restraint, which aided the successful outcome of the polls.
“To the delight of all patriotic Nigerians, this has brought great relief despite the attempts by unpatriotic elements who did all within their powers to frustrate the democratic process.
“Regrettably, some unscrupulous elements of respected national institutions such as the Nigerian Police almost fell to their unwholesome and undemocratic plot.
“With this successful election, I call on all the people of Rivers State to unite and ensure peace and development reign in the State, now and in the years ahead. Enough of unending troubles and distractions.
“Moreover, one major lesson from the outcome of this election is that the political crisis that has tormented the State in the past year has no ethnic bias. Instead, it is a fight between evil and good, truth and lies. Let them now put the past behind them and forge a new future.
“At my age, nearing 98 years, I will continue to fight for the consolidation of democracy in our country and hope that this peaceful conduct of elections, as exemplified in Rivers State on October 5, 2024, will be replicated in all the states of the federation, with minimal security involvement, devoid of unnecessary intrigues and interference.”
