Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has sworn in 23 new caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state.
The swearing-in was done on Wednesday at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital amid tight security.
Channels Television reports that the exercise was carried out at the Council Chambers with the first batch of 11 CTC chairmen taking their oath of office.
It comes a day after he forwarded the list to the state House of Assembly led by factional Speaker, Victor Jumbo
The lawmakers had invited the nominees for screening as early as 8 am on Wednesday.
See the names of the caretaker chairmen nominated by Fubara below:
- Abua/Odua LGA – Madigai Dickson
- Ahoada East LGA – Happy Benneth
- Ahoada West LGA – Mr. Daddy John Green
- Akuku Toru LGa – Otonye Briggs
- Andoni LGA – Reginald Ekaan
- Asari Toru LGA – Orolosoma Amachree
- Bonny LGA – Alabota Anengi Barasua
- Degema LGA – Anthony Soberekon
- Eleme LGA – Brain Gokpa
- Emouha LGA – David Omereji
- Etche LGA – John Otamiri
- Gokana LGA – Kenneth Kpeden
- Ikwerre LGA – Darlington Orji
- Khana LGA – Marvin Yobana
- Obia/Akpor LGA – Chijioke Ihunwo
- Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA – Princewill Ejekwe
- Ogu/Bolo LGA – Evans Bipi
- Okrika LGA – Princess Ogan
- Omuma LGA – Promise Reginald
- Opobo/Nkoro LGA – Enyiada Cookey-Gam
- Oyigbo LGA – – Gogo Philip
- Port Harcourt LGA – Ichemati Ezebunwo
- Tai LGA – Matthew Dike
Rivers LG Crisis: The Genesis
The development adds another twist to the political crisis in the state months after the Rivers Assembly passed the Local Government Amendment Bill into law.
While Fubara did not assent to the bill, the lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule vetoed him.
The law empowered the Rivers State Assembly to extend the tenure of council chairpersons, their vice, and councillors where it is deemed impossible to hold elections before the end of their three-year tenure.
But a court nullified the amended law, prompting an appeal. The appeal court is set to deliver a ruling on the matter on June 20, 2024.
In the wake of the disagreement over the tenure elongation of the local chairpersons and councillors, Rowland Sekibo and Onengiyeofori George of Akuku-Toru and Asari-Toru local government councils respectively called for peace after youths barricaded the secretariats on Monday.
They insist that their tenure was duly extended by the Amaewhule-led assembly.
Fubara Gets Backing
But on Tuesday, some youths of Ijaw extraction camped outside the Port Harcourt Local Government Area Secretariat in solidarity with Fubara’s directive.
They sat in canopies, sang, danced, and waved the Ijaw Youth Congress flags. Some of them displayed placards with solidarity messages for Fubara amid heavy security presence.
Police Warn Troublemakers
Earlier, police authorities in the oil-rich state cautioned against trouble, warning that they would clamp down on such.
The Rivers Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu who spoke at the police headquarters in Port Harcourt assured residents of peace. He appealed to politicians and their supporters to respect the appeal and cease hostilities pending the hearing and determination of their case.
He, however, cautioned that Rivers Police Command is combat-ready and won’t condone any attempt to disturb the peace in the South-South state
