The governor of Rivers State yesterday convened an emergency security council meeting following violent protests and death of a policeman and a civilian in the in Eberi-Omuma, Omuma local government area of the state.
The death resulted from a clash between the supporters of the state governor, Mr Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Mr Nyesom Wike who is now the minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Ms Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the development in a statement said: “Following the breakdown of law and order in the various local government council secretariats in Rivers State where supporters of the two political factions clashed over the tenure of local government council chairmen, a case of death was recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a police officer and a vigilante were killed,”
Recall that the governor had, in a broadcast yesterday directed all the former chairmen in the 23 local government areas to hand over to the administrative heads of their respective councils following the expiration of their three-year tenure on Monday June 18.
Following the announcement, youths besieged the headquarters of many local government areas to force the erstwhile council bosses did not report out of office amidst reports that the local officials had vowed to sit tight despite the state government announcing the end of their tenure and the appointment of interim administrators.
The council chiefs, who were Wike’s loyalists, claimed that their tenure had been extended by six months by a faction of lawmakers loyal to minister, a claim which had been invalidated by the ruling of two courts, including a recent one by the Court of Appeal.
To curb further escalation of violence, Iringe-Koko said the police had taken over the secretariats of the 23 councils and warned all groups to be law-abiding.
“To forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the Police have taken over all the 23 Council Secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state. Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities.
“While urging all groups and individuals to be law-abiding, the command also warns anyone who intends to cause mayhem as we will not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on them.
“We also wish to ask the law-abiding residents and visitors in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear. We are resolved to carry out our constitutional duty of protecting lives and property,” she added.
Meanwhile, Fubara said at the meeting that he was committed to protecting the residents of the state.
Addressing newsmen later, Fubara described as “unfortunate” the information he had been receiving.
“It’s really unfortunate that we started hearing some disturbing news from some LGAs of invasion of council secretariats, and it is really unfortunate. So, we have called the security council meeting, so the needful will be done.
“We are also aware that our enemy is planning a lot of things. But we will not fall into that plot. We will not also allow him or them to destroy the peace we are enjoying in the state.”
He assured that he would be fearless in leading the way to ensure that peace continues to prevail in the state, while also protecting all patriotic supporters for their stand on the path of truth.
The governor also spoke of a grand plan to arrest his supporters on trumped-up charges and vowed that such abuse of power would be resisted.
“I’m also aware that there is a grand plan to come and arrest some of our supporters. This time around, you have to pass through me to arrest them because I don’t think there is anything any of those people following us has done. Rather, they are standing on the side of truth.
“If it will cost us our lives to stand on the part of truth, we will do that. And I will be the one that will lead the course. Let me assure everyone, especially the great and peace-loving people of Rivers State that the law is the law. The law has said that there is no extension of tenure.
“The court said so, and whoever is assuring anybody anywhere of whatever, I advise them to desist from it because peace is what we need in this state. I assure every one of you that whatever it takes to make sure that we maintain peace and order, we are not going back on that,” he said.
