The All Progressives Congress (APC) chapter in Rivers State has asked the Federal Government to declare a ‘state of emergency’ in the State.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, chairman of the caretaker committee of the party in Rivers, Tony Okocha, said the governor, Siminialayi Fubara and security agencies in the State are “helpless”.
The APC caretaker chairman said, “The Federal Government needs to “act fast” in Rivers following the decision of some former LGA chairmen who attempted to continue in office. The governor is helpless; the Police are helpless.
“Therefore, the APC in Rivers State is calling for a ‘state of emergency’ in the State as a way of taming the mayhem, and the upsurge that is going on in the State. I call on the Federal Government to act fast in this regard”.
Recall that on Tuesday, Fubara asked the heads of local government administration to assume control of the 23 council areas of the State following the tenure expiration of the chairmen.
Despite the Governor’s directive, some of the former LGA chairmen reportedly attempted to resume duty at the council secretariat. They were eventually chased away by youths.The development sparked political tension in the State, as residents protested at some of the LGA secretariats in the State. Police officers fired multiple shots into the air to disperse protesters at the various LGA headquarters.
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara has sworn-in Caretaker Committee Chairmen for the 23 Local Government Councils of the State and directed Accountant-General of the State to audit the accounts of the past three years.
Fubara gave the directives yesterday, during the swearing-in ceremony which was performed at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt, the State capital. According to him, he set up the Caretaker Committee to defend democracy.
Governor Fubara assured that the process for conduct of local government elections will begin tomorrow.
He said, “Let me make it very clear that in fact, from today or tomorrow, the process of conducting election for the elected local government Chairmen will commence immediately for our dear State”.
The swearing-in of the Caretaker Committee chairmen is sequel to their screening and confirmation by the State House of Assembly at its sitting on Wednesday led by factional Speaker,Victor Oko Jumbo.
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