Former Local government chairmen protest in Rivers State over council headquarters occupation

On Monday, former chairmen from 21 of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State staged protests at their respective council headquarters, expressing their discontent with the current situation. These former council leaders, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, demonstrated despite warnings from the state Police Command advising against such actions.

In Buguma, the headquarters of the Asari-Toru LGA, former Chairman Onengiyeofori George led his supporters through the streets, singing in solidarity with Wike. They carried placards with messages urging the police to maintain their presence at the council headquarters. Some of the signs read, “Sim Fubara Can’t Continue to Act As He Likes” and “There’s No Vacancy in Asari-Toru Council.”

According to reports from Channels Television, the protest in Asari-Toru nearly turned violent when operatives of Asari Dokubo’s private military company, known as Amama soldiers, attempted to attack the demonstrators. The Rivers State protest was quickly brought under control by alert police officers, allowing the protesters to present a letter to the police without further incident.

Similarly, in Abonnema, the headquarters of Akuku-Toru LGA, another group staged a protest supporting the police’s continued closure of the council premises.

These demonstrations follow last Tuesday’s police occupation of the 23 LGA council secretariats in the oil-rich South-South region, triggered by a crisis over the expiration of the three-year tenure of the former LGA chairmen. The Rivers State protest resulted in three fatalities.

The former chairmen’s protests highlight ongoing tensions and the demand for resolution regarding the leadership and management of the local government councils in Rivers State.