UPDATED: Gunshots, explosions, arsons herald assumption of Rivers council’s chairmen
Protesters, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), unknown arsonists and gunmen resisted attempts by many local government chairmen elected on the platform of the Action Peoples Party (APP) and sworn-in by Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara to assume offices on Monday.
In some of the councils, hundreds of protesters barricaded their secretariats early in the morning even before the elected chairmen arrived the areas.
Other councils’ secretariats were set ablaze with explosives and arsonists, who razed down some buildings and destroyed many valuables.
Other local government areas witnessed violent clashes by rival groups, who engaged the surroundings of the secretariats with sustained gunshots.
Chaos started spreading in Rivers shortly after the police withdrew the personnel they initially sent to guard the secretariats and ordered the unsealing of the facilities.
The newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Bala Mustapha, on Monday morning ordered the immediate withdrawal of all policemen from 23 councils’ secretariats.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, said the directive was in line with the decision of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The statement reads: “In view of the recent political developments in Rivers State, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Mustapha hereby convey the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the Local Government Secretariats in the state.
“This decision is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.
“Consequently, the IGP has ordered the unsealing of the Local Government Secretariats, which were earlier secured by police personnel. The police will only be redeployed to these locations in the event of any crisis or breakdown of law and order, in which case emergency measures will be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy.
“The Rivers State Police Command assures the public of its readiness to maintain peace and order across the state and will continue to act professionally in discharging its duties. We urge all residents and stakeholders to remain calm and law-abiding as the situation continues to evolve”.
The Eleme Local Government Area was the first to go up in flames after explosives were reportedly thrown into the Secretariat by unknown persons
A significant section of the secretariat was in rumbles while vehicles and other valuables were razed by the fire.
The newly elected Chairman of Eleme, Brain Gokpa, in company with his councillors and supporters, arrived at the LG secretariat and discovered that some buildings in the complex were on fire.
Hundreds of youths also took over the Emohua Local Government Area’s Secretariat in protest against the recent council’s election in Rivers.
The youths, who changed solidarity songs were said to have claimed that an unknown APP could not possibly win the councils.
The protesters barricaded the main entrance to the secretariat, padlocking the gate and securing the small entrance.
They were said to have taken control of the administrative building, saying they would not allow the sworn-in Chairman, David Omereji, assume office.
The supporters said they only recognised Dr. Chidi Lloyd as the duly elected chairman and demanded that he be allowed to serve out his tenure.
The PDP Emohua Council Chairman, Morrison Jim addressed the public, reaffirming the party’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
Read Also: PDP backs Fubara on conduct of local government council election
He said despite not participating in the recent election due to a court order, the PDP remained strong and united.
He said: “We respect the legal process and have chosen to abide by the court’s decision,” Jim stated. “Our focus remains on serving the people and promoting the well-being of our good people of Emolga.”
The PDP emphasized its dedication to transparency, accountability, and good governance, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to upholding the principles of rule of law.
But shortly after the crowd departed the secretariat, huge fire emerged at the security and the transformer areas of the council.
The Ikwerre Local Government Area was perhaps the worst hit by the riot as two rival political groups clashed setting the newly built edifice ablaze.
Gunshots reportedly boomed uncontrollably at Isiokpo where the Secretariat was located sending passers-by and residents to run to different directions for safety.
Most parts of the council, which witnessed reconstruction and special facelift during the past local government administration, were left in rubbles.
The fire completely destroyed the Executive Chambers located in a white two-storey building with the furniture totally razed.
It was gathered that the two groups of fighters, who exchanged gunfire disagreed over the conduct of the local government election.
While one camp insisted that there was no election, the other said an election was held and that an elected Chairman had been sworn in and must be allowed to resume his duties at the secretariat.
Obio-Akpo was also enveloped in tension as sustained heavy gunshots boomed continuously from unknown gunmen.
The unknown gunmen surrounded the Secretariat and held people in the council hostage for hours.
People were seen running helter skelter seeking safety at the Secretariat as the gunmen sustained their shootings.
Some armed policemen were also seen trying to confront the gunmen and stabilize the council.
At least one person was feared dead following shootings in Bori in Khana Local Government Area.
It was gathered that the incident was part of the violent protest spreading in the state against the local government election and its outcome.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said that the gunshots were heard near Bori, saying people started running to different directions.
He said: “It was near Bori but I can’t say exactly where. A young man was shot and oeople started running. The man was rushed to the hospital this morning.”
In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, protesters reportedly invaded the council headquarters in Omoku, refusing the newly sworn in chairman to resume office.
Oyigbo, Ahoada East, Ogu Bolu and others also witnessed their fair share of protests and gunshots.
However, some secretariats particularly the ones located at the riverine areas were said to be peaceful as their chairmen assumed their offices and inaugurated their councilors.
For instance, in Port Harcourt City Council, there were no reports of violence and protest as the chairman reportedly inaugurated the councilors from various wards.
New Mayor of Port Harcourt City Council, Ezebunwo Ichemati, immediately dissolved the 7th Legislative Assembly and inaugurated the 8th Assembly, whose members later elected the principal officers
Also the Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area was peaceful and the Executive Chairman, Dr Enyiada Cookey-Gam inaugurated the Vice-Chairman Beauty Adokiye Simon at the Executive Chambers and proceeded to inaugurate the legislative arm.
The inauguration was done in the presence of the council principal officers, representatives of the traditional institution, security agencies, and heads of youth bodies.
Inauguration of the 11 ward councillors by the council boss was done at the Council Legislative Chamber in presence of past councilors of the 7th Legislative Assembly among others.
Cookey-Gam in his address, reaffirmed the commitment of his administration in delivering the dividends of democracy to the good people of Opobo/Nkoro.
Immediately after the inauguration, the councilors held their first sitting to elected their principal officers.
Fubara Visits Ikwerre, condemns arson
Disturbed by the development, the state Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, rode into the Ikwerre Local Government Secretariat to access the damage done by the arsonists.
Fubara, who was flanked by heavily armed security operatives inspected the completely burnt Executive Chamber at the Secretariat.
The governor condemned the actions of the protesters describing them as irresponsible.
He said they were happy when the police announced the withdrawal of their personnel from the secretariats, but observed that the hoodlums took advantage of the opportunity to vent their anger on the facilities.
He said the greatest losers of the attacks were the people, whose funds would be utilized by the new chairmen to restore the damaged facilities.
He regretted that instead of channelling such funds to other meaningful ventures, the councils’ chairmen would be constrained to use for repairs and replacements of damaged facilities.
Cautioning the people, Fubara said: “Do your politics with a sense of responsibility. We don’t need to kill ourselves. Even if anyone advises you to destroy your property, you should think twice. We all know where this is coming from but we will allow security agencies to do their investigations”.
PDP Governors’ Forum defends Fubara on APP, LG poll
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum (PDPGF), Senator Bala Mohammed, defended the decision of Fubara to conduct the local government elections against all odds.
Mohammed said Fubara had proven himself a true democrat, who pushed through with decisions and actions to deepen democracy.
He said Fubara was proactive with an open mind, deploying his democratic instincts with strategies to carefully deliver democratic governance at the local government level, irrespective of party allegiance or consideration.
Senator Mohammed, who is also the Governor of Bauchi State, spoke shortly after he witnessed the swearing-in of 23 democratically elected Rivers State local government council chairmen.
A statement signed by Fubara’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS) quoted Mohammed as affirming that Rivers remained a PDP State, even if the just sworn-in local government chairmen and councillors were of different political parties.
Mohammed bemoaned the situation, describing it as the problem that they had found themselves both as a party and as governors.
Mohammed said Governor Fubara, who is the Vice-Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, was still an avowed member of the PDP despite the fact that other parties constituted the body of elected officers at the local government level.
He said: “Of course, he is still with us. He’s still a PDP man, and I have to come, on behalf of the governors, to show solidarity to him for this very proactive democratic instincts that he developed, which is a new manifestation in the political arena in Nigeria; where he had to intensify, and he has to develop strategy to be able to deliver governance, irrespective of party allegiance or party consideration.
“He didn’t have a structure of the party in the state, for certain reasons, and he had to go out to make sure he allows other parties to participate within the political space so that there wouldn’t be any vacuum.
“And, I think this is very auspicious, that is very creative and I am very proud of him. And I said, yes, we have lost as a party, and that is why we want to be running away from this.
“Again, he has established himself as a Governor and the pride of all the governors in Nigeria.”
Mohammed said it was inadvisable to ignore a sitting governor at the sub-national level because of his roles and number of followers.
He said: “A Governor is the Chief Executive. He can do anything. He can spring surprises because the Nigerian State is run by governors at the sub-national level.
“Even the Federal Government is a tenant. Nigerians live in the states and local governments, and that is why what he did is very proactive and creative, irrespective of the fact that he knew his party will lose.
“And certainly, because of his deep democratic instincts, he had to allow the other parties to win, and I will just wish that those who have won will see it in their own modesty and willing to give him support.
“Because he is not doing it with any strings or asking them to do anything. Let the APP and him have that relationship so that he can govern,” he explained.
Mohammed recalled that as a person in 2019, he encountered a similar situation, but braced up and was able to navigate through it safely.
He said: “I had a similar situation in 2019. I governed a State where only nine PDP person were members in the State Assembly and he (Fubara) is still doing that.
“So, his political sagacity has come to a level where he has become a specimen for democratic studies in Nigeria.”
Responding to how soon the PDP would resolve its festering crisis and achieve desired unity, Mohammed assured that it might seem prolonged but quickly added that true reconciliation was in view.
He said: “And that is the more reason I am here. Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the Vice Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum. All the governors are with him, and certainly, we are taking steps to ensure reconciliation.
“Reconciliation with somebody who they had started with; the former Governor of this State and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is a must because, certainly, they have come a long way. We didn’t want to throw the baby away with the bad water.
“And certainly, the governors are with the Governor (Fubara) because this is our own tradition and fraternity; at the same time, out of our own political history as a party that has history of governance.
“We are still stretching our arms of reconciliation to his mentor, to his friend and brother, and also our colleague”.
