Tension In Rivers Over Council Dissolution

Governor Nyesom Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Tension has gripped local government councils of Rivers State, southern Nigeria, as 22 Caretaker Committee chairmen cleared by the Rivers House of Assembly and inaugurated by Governor Nyesom Wike last night at Government House attempt to takeover from their counterparts that were sacked by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.

Our correspondent reports that police and security forces have barricaded all the councils to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

In Obio-Akpor council, Rumuodamaya, an Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, and armed policemen were deployed at the gate and all staff of the council were ordered out.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State

Bright Amaehule, the Chairman Caretaker Committee and team supporters of Grassroot Development Initiative, GDI, and members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were disallowed from entering the council secretariat.

Amaehule later addressed the supporters and asked them to leave the council secretariat to allow peace and security to prevail.

“I just spoke to the Governor about the development and he assured that we should give the Commissioner of Police the benefit doubt. But we are coming back to takeover this place,” he boasted.

A section of Ikwerre road was blocked by enthusiastic PDP supporters who caused heavy traffic gridlock that stretched up to about 2km.

There were sporadic gunshots at the Emohua Secretariat leading to an accident and burning of a taxi cab. Armed policemen also took over the secretariat.

Police also barricaded the secretariat of Port Harcourt City council.

Related News

At the Buguma Secretariat of Asari-Toru the Caretaker committee, staff and visitors doing business at the secretariat were not allowed in by security agents.

The State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, had warned that the command would deal decisively with anybody who tries to cause a breach of the peace in the state over the nullification of  election that brought to power only All Progressives Congress, APC, council chairmen and councillors.

The council chairmen were sacked on Thursday by a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi.

However, APC has rejected the judgement, arguing that the National Industrial Court in Yenagoa had earlier given an injunction to the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, barring the House of Assembly from dissolving the council.

The judgment has also elicited diverse opinions from lawyers. Ken Atsewete, a human rights activist said the nullification of the councils by the court was a sound one and a law that must be obeyed first by the affected council chairmen before they could proceed to the Appeal Court if not satisfied, rather thank seek self help that would lead to anarchy in the state.

Charles Aholu, another lawyer totally disagreed. He said the sacked councillors had raised the issue of bias against the Justice Akanbi, yet the judge refused to hands off the case.

He advised law enforcement agencies to takeover the councils to prevent breakdown of law and order.

Meanwhile, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, has said it would go to the Appeal Court to challenge the judgment.

Sogbeye Eli, ALGON legal Adviser and chairman of Degema Local Government said the judgment of the Federal High Court would not stand.

Load more