Tinubu orders police to protect Rivers LG secretariats

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigeria Police Force to protect local government secretariats in Rivers State against arsonists and vandals.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said this in a statement on Monday, after rioting hoodlums angry about the outcome of the Saturday LG poll burned down local council secretariats in the oil-rich state.

“In response to recent tensions following last Saturday’s local government council election, the President expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the state,” Onanuga said.

In order to prevent violence and harmful behaviour among their supporters, the President asked all political actors to defuse the situation.

“President Tinubu directed the police to restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately.

“While instructing law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, he emphasised the need to ensure the security of public institutions.

“President Tinubu said government facilities built with public funds must be safeguarded from vandalism.”

The President emphasized that, particularly after 25 years of nonstop democracy, self-help has no place in a democratic system.

President Tinubu asserts that all political conflicts may be resolved by the judiciary, and the results of this election should be no different.

At least four local government districts saw violent skirmishes break out. Parts of the buildings in the council premises of Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua were set on fire, while there were intermittent gunshots fired in Ahoada East as protesters against the new council authorities.

The commissioner of police withdrew the police officers guarding the 23 council secretariats, and the LG secretariats were set on fire.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara insisted that the poll take place on Saturday even though the police, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the All Progressives Congress (APC) chose not to participate in the process that resulted in the election of the new LG chairman.

In the oil-rich state, the Action Alliance (AA) won a seat and the Action People’s Party (APP) won 22 of the 23 chairperson positions following a tense exercise.

In Rivers State, Fubara swore in the 23 recently elected local government chairmen on Sunday; however, on Monday, several of the LG chiefs faced attacks. Some municipal secretariats were also set ablaze by political opponents.