Standing on the premise of the ongoing Local Government Council Crisis in Rivers State, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has advised President Bola Tinubu-led government to declare a ‘State of Emergency’ in the state.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the Party, Tony Okocha gave the advice during a Press Briefing on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
Okocha alleged that the state was at war, stressing that the Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the Police were overwhelmed and helpless to address the crisis.
He said: “Rivers state is at war. And the dramatis personae who are responsible for the mayhem that has claimed lives are known.
The governor is helpless, the police is helpless. Therefore, the APC in Rivers State is calling for a state of emergency in Rivers State as a way of taming the mayhem, the upsurge that that is going on in the state. I call on the federal government to act fast in this regard”, he said.
Recall that Gov. Fubara in a State Broadcast on Tuesday asked the 23 government Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and Councillors whose tenure expired Monday, June 17, 2024 to vacate their offices.
He thereafter, directed the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAS) to take charge and provide leadership in their respective Local Government Areas until further directives.
“Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAS) are hereby directed to immediately take charge of the Councils with renewed vigor and readiness to serve and await further directives as we navigate towards even greater accomplishments together”, he said.
Shortly after this announcement, the Pro-Fubara supporters took over the 23 local government areas, and chased away the Council Chairmen.
The crisis, however, became intense when the some of the outgoing Chairmen refused to vacate their offices.
Meanwhile, governor Fubara has sworn in new caretaker Chairmen for the 23 local government areas.
The Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly, G.M, Gillis who announced the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, informed that their names were forwarded by the governor for screening as early as 8.am on Wednesday.
