Governor Siminalayi Fubara has sworn in the chairpersons of the caretaker committees of the 23 local government councils in Rivers State on Wednesday.
The ceremony took place at the Government House in Port Harcourt, as announced by the Governor’s spokesperson, Chukwudi Nelson.
The Rt. Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo-led Assembly on Tuesday screened the nominees appointed by the governor following the expiration of the tenure of the former elected chairmen.
Governor Fubara had directed the Heads of Local Government Administration to take over in the meantime.
Crisis erupted when the former LGA chairmen attempted to defy the governor’s order to vacate. Police had since barricaded all 23 council secretariats.
The amended Local Government Administration Law, which the former chairmen cited as a reason to remain in office, had been invalidated by a State High Court ruling.
Chijioke Ihunwo, one vocal critic of Mr. Wike and chairperson of the National Youth Council in Rivers, was appointed as the caretaker committee chairperson for Obio/Akpor, Wike’s hometown.
Former Chairmen To Be Probed
Piling pressure on his opponents, the governor vowed to probe the former local council Chairmen in the state.
“We will set up a committee to Audit Accounts of Local Governments and all the activities of the past Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State,” the governor said.
With his appointees now in charge of the LGA’s, Mr Fubara appears to be gradually consolidating control over the political structure in the state, away from the shadows cast on it by the former governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
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