Rivers LGA succession crisis hots up as youths take over two councils
A palpable tension caused by the ongoing succession crisis enveloped the 23 local government areas of Rivers State on Monday sparking fears of possible outbreak of violence among residents of the oil-rich state.
At Degema Local Government Area secretariat, some youths were seen blocking the main entrance, chanting songs in solidarity and demanding the departure of the council’s Chairman, Michael John Williams.
The youths vowed to remain at the gate till Wednesday to stop Williams and other elected officials from gaining access their offices.
They insisted that their three-year tenure on June 17 and that they should not be seen around the secretariat after the Sallah holiday.
The youths were heard chanting “Chairman must go”, as others arrived the gate to join them.
Same scenario played out at Asari-Toru Local Government Secretariat where youths barricaded the gate to stop their LGA Chairman and others from gaining access to the area.
But at the Port Harcourt City LGA, over four patrol vans of policemen were seen keeping vigil at the gate to prevent possible breakdown of law and order.
There were indications that Rivers Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, had sent a list of caretaker committees to the lawmakers led by factional Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo.
Scores of armed youths, suspected to be surveillance workers, were seen in a viral video parading the creeks of riverine Local councils.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) claimed that the Governor had sent names of the seven-man caretaker committees for each local government area to Oko-Jumbo-led lawmakers for screening.
An unidentified leader of joint task force anti-bunkering Southsouth was seen threatening fire and brimstone in another viral video.
He said he came home with half of his armed men to take over the 23 local government areas and to escort the Caretaker committees to their various councils.
He particularly drew a battle line with the outgoing Chairman of the Ikwerre Local Government Area, Samuel Nwanosike, who earlier vowed not to vacate his office after June 17.
He said: “We are preparing and we are about to take over the local government areas on Wednesday. We are taking over the 23 local government areas. Let them wait for us, we are coming.
“We will be escorting every local government caretaker. My business is to work for the government and relate with the government to fight crime. I work with the joint task force. I am in charge of anti-bunkering Southsouth.
“I am back home with half of my men. We are getting ready for Wednesday. Let all the caretaker get ready to host my boys too. The Chairman of Ikwerre should wait for me.
“I volunteer to come to Ikwerre, wait for us. If your head is hot, we will pour it cold water and it will be cool so that you learn how to respect elders and authority especially the number one citizen”.
Details coming…
