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A high court in Akure, the Ondo state capital, has nullified the creation of additional 33 local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state.
Adegboyega Adebusoye, a judge, delivered the ruling on Thursday.
The Ondo state house of assembly passed the bill for the creation of the 33 additional councils on August 15, 2023, after it scaled a third reading.
In September 2023, Rotimi Akeredolu, former Ondo state governor, signed the bill a day after his return from a three-month medical leave.
The 33 LCDAs were to co-exist with the 18 LGAs, bringing the total number of local councils in the state to 51.
Akeredolu died on December 27, 2023, following a protracted battle with prostate cancer. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, his deputy, was immediately sworn in to succeed him.
‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL, NULL AND VOID’
The judge held that it is illegal for a governor to sign a law outside the state he or she governs.
Addressing journalists after the court session, Tolu Babaleye, counsel to the 22 plaintiffs, said the court held that the creation of the 33 LCDAs was “unconstitutional, null and void”.
“We approached this court being the last hope of the common man. And today, the court gave a well-considered judgment which I call a judicial Tsunami, sweeping off all those illegally created local governments in Ondo state,” Babaleye said.
“Apart from that, there was a landmark pronouncement by the court to the effect that no governor is empowered to sign the law of a state outside the shores or jurisdiction of that state because the government has provided for a massive government house for a governor.
“So the governor has no right under the law to go to Ibadan to sign the law. Because of that, the law was nullified, declared unconstitutional and of no effect.
“So as I talk to you now, Ondo state has reverted to 18 local governments.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) says Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, is the “supreme architect” of the crisis in the state.
The ruling party is reacting to a comment by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleging plots to take over the government of Rivers forcefully.
In a statement on Thursday, Felix Morka, APC national spokesperson, said the opposition party made the “fake” claim without addressing the issues bedevilling the state.
Morka said since assuming office, Fubara has allegedly shown a disdain for the rule of law.
“Quite contrary to the PDP’s misplaced quibbles against Chief Okocha’s comments, Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the supreme architect of the horrific crisis rocking Rivers state,” the statement reads.
“Since assuming office over a year ago, Governor Fubara has displayed reckless disdain for the rule of law and democratic institutions and conducted his government in flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“In an unprecedented display of autocratic arrogance, Governor Fubara declared the democratically elected Rivers state House of Assembly to be non-existent and, without lawful authority, constituted a bogus and an illegal 3-man sham Assembly in brazen violation of express provisions of the Constitution on the threshold composition of the House of Assembly and in disregard of the separation of powers doctrine.
“The Governor has continued to expend public funds without lawful appropriations by a duly constituted legislature, thereby undermining the will of the good people of Rivers State and their right to effective and accountable democratic governance.”
The APC spokesperson said a “serious and focused” governor would have set a clear programme to conduct local government elections in the state.
Apart from the rift without Nyesom Wike, minister of federal capital territory (FCT), which has torn apart the Rivers house of assembly, the state is witnessing a crisis at the local government level.
BACKGROUND
On Tuesday, Fubara asked the heads of local government administration to assume control of the 23 council areas of the state following the tenure expiration of the chairmen.
Despite the governor’s directive, some former LGA chairmen reportedly attempted to resume duty at the council secretariats but were chased away by youths.
The development sparked political tension in Rivers as residents protested at the LGA secretariats while police officers fired multiple shots into the air to disperse protesters.
Although the governor has sworn in caretaker committee chairs for the LGAs, they have not been allowed to assume their offices.
The Kano government has ordered the demolition of a section of the palace of Ado Bayero, the deposed 15th Emir of Kano.
Haruna Dederi, Kano state attorney-general and commissioner for justice, said the government has directed the police to take over the Emir’s palace in Nassarawa LGA.
Dederi said the state government has concluded arrangements for the general reconstruction and renovation of the palace, including demolishing “dilapidated walls”.
Earlier on Thursday, a federal high court in Kano nullified all actions by the Kano state government repealing the Kano Emirates Council Law of 2019.
Muhammad Liman, the presiding judge, ordered parties to maintain the status quo.
Liman held that the defendants were aware of an interim order previously granted by the court but ignored it and implemented the law.
The judge said he would assume his coercive powers to enforce compliance with the court order.
However, the judge transferred the case to another federal high court judge, Simon Amobeda, for continuation given his elevation to the court of appeal.
Speaking on the court ruling, the commissioner said the state government acknowledged the verdict.
”The Kano State Government acknowledges the ruling by the Federal High Court regarding the Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 and views same as upholding the rule of law,” he said.
“By the ruling of the court, it has unequivocally reaffirmed the validity of the law passed by Kano State House of Assembly and assented to by His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State on Thursday 23rd May 2024 by 5:10 pm.
“This part of the judgement is very fundamental to the entire matter. A further implication of the ruling is that all actions done by the Government before the emergence of the interim order of the honourable court, are equally validated.
“This means that the abolishing of the five emirates created in 2019 is validated and the deposition of the five emirs is also sustained by the federal high court.
“By implication, this means that Muhammadu Sanusi II remains the Emir of Kano. The judge also granted our application for the stay of proceedings until the court of appeal deals with the appeal before it on jurisdiction.
“Happily, the signing of the law and the reinstatement of His Highness, Emir Muhammad Sanusi II, were done on 23rd May 2024 before the emergence of the interim order, which was served on us on Monday 27th May 2024,” the commissioner told journalists on Thursday.
“Following this Court’s ruling, the Kano State Government has directed the State Commissioner of Police to remove the deposed emir of the 8 metropolitan local governments from the government property where he is trespassing, as the government has already concluded arrangements for the general reconstruction and renovation of the property, including the demolishing and reconstruction of the dilapidated wall fence, with immediate effect.”
A federal high court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking the sack of Ola Olukoyede as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Obiora Egwuatu, presiding judge, dismissed the suit on the grounds that the applicant lacked the locus standi to institute the case.
Victor Opatola, the plaintiff who is an Abuja-based legal practitioner, instituted the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1403/2023 against President Bola Tinubu for appointing Olukoyede as EFCC chairman.
Besides the president, the national assembly, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and Olukoyede were joined as 2nd to 4th respondents respectively.
Opatola submitted that Olukoyede did not meet the years of service required by law for the office of chairman of the anti-graft agency.
He prayed the court to determine “whether by the true construction and interpretation of Section 2 (1) (a) of the EFCC Act 2004, Olukoyede, who has not fulfilled the conditions of the Act, can be validly appointed as EFCC chairman”.
“Whether by the true construction and interpretation of Section 2(1)(a) (iii) of the EFCC Act 2004, the interpretation of subsection (iii) should be read disjunctively of subsection (ii) of the act in a manner that Olukoyede, who was appointed to the office of the chairman of EFCC, can be said to have 15 years of cognate experience in any field outside the government security or law enforcement agency,” the suit reads.
However, the respondents prayed the court to dismiss the suit for lacking in merit.
Olukoyede through Olumide Fusika, his counsel, challenged the plaintiff’s authority to institute the suit.
He also claimed that he met all the requirements for the position of EFCC chairman.
…Decries Poor Salary For Lecturers, Threatens Strike
A Nigerian Professor earns a ‘miserly’ $400 monthly compared to the $6000 received by his counterpart in the United Kingdom, the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU), says.
The coordinator, Benin Zone of ASUU, Prof. Monday Igbafen, who disclosed this during a press conference in Benin, decried the unjust treatment of the lecturers by the Federal Government, stating that they have been on the same salary regime since 2009.
Igbafen said the government at all levels have been reviewing other workers’ salaries except that of the university lecturers.
“University teachers in Nigeria have been on the same salary regime since 2009 when the value of naira to a dollar was N120, and salaries in other sectors have been reviewed twice or more.
“It is better imagined that what a Professor earns in today’s Nigeria is about $400 per month which is a scandalous undervaluation of scholars.
“To continue to remain on the same salary regime for 15 years without review is not only wicked and inhuman but also an invitation to resistance/industrial disharmony,” Igbafen said.
Igbafen stated that the Federal Government has refused to meet their demands, adding that they have been pushed to the wall, and may likely embark on industrial action if the government did not respond.
“Having been irked by the obvious lack of sincerity on the part of federal and state governments to address the issues which have worsened the living and working conditions of academic staff in the public universities, it is sad to note that barely a month after we engage with the press in DELSU, there is refusal and/or total neglect of our union’s demands and ultimatum by the government.
“This disposition of government is certainly not a good recipe for the impending paralysis in Nigeria’s public universities.
“It is imperative to point out that the nagging issues between the government and our union in reference revolve around the abysmal failure by the government to satisfactorily implement the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement,” he said.
The Union lamented that the government was not moved by the several clarion calls and efforts by the university lecturers to get it to attend to their demands.
“By its action to ignore the union on these contending issues, the government is begging our union to proceed on strike,” he said.
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has borrowed N6.53tn between December 2023 and March 2024 including the securitasation of Ways and Means, according to data from the Debt Management Office (DMO).
The additional borrowing pushed the country’s total public debt to N121.67tn as of March 2024. This is asides the impact of the exchange rate difference resulting from naira devaluation.
Nigeria’s total public debt, comprises of the total domestic and external debts of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), the thirty-six (36) state governments, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A breakdown shows that the debt rose from N121.67tn ($91.46bn) as of March 31, 2024, from the N97tn ($108.23bn) which it was on December 31, 2024.
Total domestic debt was N65.65tn ($46.29bn), while total external debt was N56.02tn ($42.12bn).
DMO said, “Excluding Naira exchange rate movements in Q1 2024, only the Domestic Debt component of Total Public Debt grew from N59.12 trillion on December 31, 2023, to N65.65 trillion on March 31, 2024.
“The increase was from new bon-owing to pan-finance the 2024 Budget deficit and securitization of a portion of the N7.3tn Ways and Means Advances at the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
Analysis showed that the new debt and ways and means securitization rose N6.53tn in the first quarter of 2024.
The DMO warned, “Whilst borrowing, as provided in the 2024 Appropriation Act, will continue, we expect improvements in the Government’s Revenue to enhance debt sustainability.”
South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa visited Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu in a private meeting on Thursday in Johannesburg to discuss enhancing bilateral relations between both countries.
The private meeting at the Radisson Blu Hotel underscored the need for a stronger partnership between Nigeria and South Africa.
According to a press release from Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), President Ramaphosa expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu for attending his second-term inauguration.
“Thank you so much for coming for the inauguration. I was very happy to see my brother at the ceremony,” said Ramaphosa.
President Tinubu praised Ramaphosa’s inaugural speech, noting its relevance to the challenges faced by African countries and the necessity for increased collaboration.
“I enjoyed your speech at the ceremony. I was delighted listening to you. We have lots of issues in common, and we need to work more closely together. It was a good celebration,” Tinubu stated.
Ramaphosa was re-elected on June 14, 2024, after the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance formed a Government of National Unity.
A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Kenneth Okonkwo has hinted on plans to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okonkwo, who served as presidential campaign spokesperson for the party in the 2023 election, he is not impressed by recent developments in the party.
The Nollywood actor, who joined the Labour Party after dumping the APC in 2022, described it as “a secret society led by a group of clowns”.
He added that the party lacks the integrity to take advantage of the internal crisis in other parties.
In a recent interview on Symfoni, Okonkwo said he will not rule out rejoining another party if the LP continues on a “trajectory where they cannot even hold an acceptable national convention”.
“Any party that is not visibly committed to the welfare of Nigerians will most likely not see me there. I don’t rule out going back to anything because change is constant,” he said.
“My own labour party is not impressing me. Assuming they continue on this trajectory where they cannot even hold an acceptable national convention, then you’d tell me I’d be there?
“I was a spokesperson at the presidential level and I did not know that the Labour Party was having a convention. When I saw it on social media, I thought it was fake. They were rejected in Umuahia because it was a leprous convention.
“Those people are clowns. It is the greatest joke I have ever seen in a political party and then you want to position yourself as a party of integrity. You cannot give what you don’t have.
“Aburi and his cohorts, their tenure is over. Let Aburi and his cohorts get behind me. They are workers of iniquity. I don’t rate them. That executive is in charge of the secret society. They should be apprehended.”
The Edo State Working Committee of the People Democratic Party on Wednesday expelled a former deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, for alleged anti-party activities.
The PDP SWC also expelled the South-South Vice Chairman, Dan Orbih, while it also upheld the expulsion of a former member of the House of Representatives, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, by Ward 2, Oredo Local Government.
The decisions were taken on Wednesday at the PDP SWC meeting in Benin.
Present at the meeting were the Chairman of the Edo PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, and seven other members of the SWC, including Tony Anenih Jr., who joined the meeting virtually.
Aziegbemi said that the trio was expelled for anti-party activities, noting that they had shown that they were no longer in the party and there was no need to keep them in the PDP.
He said that the party would not be affected by their expulsion in the September 21 governorship election in the state, adding the party was well positioned to win at the poll.
The Edo PDP chairman said, “Dan Orbih was expelled because he has been asking members of the PDP to join the opposition party. He also took an appointment as the governing council member of a third-tier institution without recourse to the party before accepting the appointment.
“Shaibu donated about 15 vehicles to the All Progressives Congress and has also been abusing and disrespectful to the leaders of the party in the state. Someone who does these things cannot be termed a true party man.
“Also, Ogbeide-Ihama donated his building on Sakponba Road to the APC for campaign purposes. The building currently bears the billboard of the APC candidate and his running mate.
“The party is working with other stakeholders to ensure that the party wins the election in September.”
The SWC’s decision came days after Shaibu openly declared he would be working for the APC to win the September 21 governorship election while labelling the PDP governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, an outsider and a product of godfatherism.
Orbih, on his own, leads the Edo PDP Legacy Group, which had vowed to stop Governor Godwin Obaseki from influencing or installing a successor.
The expulsion of Ogbeide-Ihama by the SWC, however, generated an uproar as the PDP leadership in the Oredo Local Government Area of the state faulted the ex-federal lawmaker’s expulsion.
They declared the suspension null and void and urged the group behind the act not to cause confusion in the local government.
The chairman of the PDP in the local government, Oduwa Igbinosun, after an emergency meeting in Benin on Wednesday, stated that the local government exco attention was drawn to a purported expulsion of Ogbeide-Ihama by a faceless group led by one Lawrence Aguebor, which according to him prompted the exco to set the record straight.
He explained that the said Lawrence was an ex-official of the ward, and lacked the authority to suspend or expel anyone.
Igbinosun added that the National Working Committee of the party had extended the tenure of all elected excos and made ratification for them to act as a caretaker committee.
Similarly, the executives of the PDD ward 2, in Oredo local government disowned the purported suspension and expulsion of the two-term federal lawmaker.
Secretary of the ward, Mr. Jesuobo Obadigie, who stated this on behalf of the executives, said no such action was carried out.
Flanked by the 12 members of the ward exco, Osayande said: “Honourable Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama remains not just a member, but a prominent and formidable leader of the party, and continues to enjoy the total support of the members in Ward 2.
“It is expected that anyone who loves the party should at this point be focused on actions that will unite the party ahead of the September governorship election.
In a bid to purge the civil service of fraudulent activities, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, HOCSF, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, has revealed a crackdown on ghost workers based abroad but receiving salaries in Nigeria.
She noted that the verification exercises of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) helped to expose some of the fraudulent activities being perpetuated by certain individuals in the service.
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) revealed that numerous civil servants who were found to be involved in fraudulent activities were forced to resign from their positions after failing to participate in the physical verification process, which exposed their deceit.
She added that civil servants who are outside the country without official permission and still on the payroll will be sacked after the ongoing verification is completed.
This was as she also disclosed that 1618 civil servants with fake employment letters were also caught and dismissed.
Yemi-Esan revealed this during a media parley with media executives on Wednesday in Abuja, as part of activities to mark 2024 Civil Service Week.
The theme for 2024 celebration is ‘Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa’.
She said: “There are efforts to tackle Nigerians who have relocated abroad doing news jobs, but are still under the payroll of the civil service.
“The Federal Government is going hard on them, as many of them are voluntarily resigning after the physical verifications.
“Recently, there was a circular that went out to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that they should do a physical headcount in their MDAs.
“That means, everybody on the nominal roll, that is receiving salaries, should appear physically and the names of those who did not show up for the exercise should be forwarded.
“In the circular, I cautioned that Permanent Secretaries and CEOs that give wrong information will be held liable if anything is discovered outside of the information that was given.”
She alleged that certain high-ranking officials, who were responsible for providing her office with information, were complicit in the fraud and deliberately withheld details to conceal the vacancies, thereby perpetuating the scam.
“It is a Nigerian thing. We are running hard against the culture that tolerates it. Outsiders don’t know the bashing we get every day trying to do the right thing.
“I expect that once the verification report comes anybody that is not in the country automatically loses his job.
“What we discovered in the last month of that verification is that most of them are now resigning their appointment which is a good development,” Yemi-Ean said.
Yemi-Esan, who is set to retire on August 14, as announced by the director of communication, Mohammed Ahmed, during the parley, has been spearheading the purge to restore integrity and transparency in the civil service.
She vowed to continue the clampdown, ensuring that only legitimate civil servants receive their rightful compensation.
Yemi-Esan noted that so far, 69,308 civil servants who participated in the compulsory verification exercise have been fully integrated into the IPPIS after their verifications.
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Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), announced that the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) verification exercises had uncovered 1,618 civil servants with fake or illegal employment letters.
Speaking in Abuja during a media conversation as part of the 2024 Civil Service Week Celebrations, Yemi-Esan revealed that 69,308 civil servants who participated in the compulsory verification exercise have been fully integrated into the IPPIS after their verifications.
Yemi-Esan highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance civil servants’ capacity and talent. Under the Structured Mandatory Assessment-Based Training Programme (SMAT-P) in the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021-2025), 8,905 workers have received training.
Addressing corruption within the civil service, Yemi-Esan noted that her initiatives have led the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to identify and investigate over 3,600 public servants. The clean-up effort has also resulted in the removal of numerous individuals, including retirees, who were improperly on the payroll.
Efforts are underway to address the issue of Nigerians who have relocated abroad but continue to receive salaries from the civil service. Yemi-Esan warned that the Federal Government is cracking down on this practice, and many of these individuals voluntarily resign following physical verifications. Civil servants abroad without official permission and still on the payroll will be dismissed once the ongoing verification is completed.
Yemi-Esan discovered that many employees who have left the country but continue to receive salaries are primarily in parastatals rather than core ministries. She accused some top officials of plotting to ensure these positions were not declared vacant.
“It’s a Nigerian thing. We are running hard against the culture that tolerates it. Outsiders don’t know the bashing we get every day trying to do the right thing,” Yemi-Esan remarked.
She added that once the verification report is finalized, any employee not in the country will automatically lose their job. She also noted a positive development: many individuals have started resigning their positions during the verification process.
The police in Edo State have been given seven days ultimatum to arrest the killers of one Glory Adekolure.
Within Nigeria had reported on Wednesday how Adekolure, a UNIBEN fresh graduate, was beaten and raped to death by some yet-to-be-identified persons.
The incident was said to have happened at Iyowa Community, Benin City, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.
After her gruesome murder, the body of the 22-year-old was dumped close to her mother’s house.
A family source disclosed that the 22-year-old was on her way home after processing her clearance forms when she she met her grisly end in the hands of the diabolical men.
Reacting to the incident, Obaseki directed Edo State Commissioner to go after the perpetrators of the heinous act.
The governor’s directive was contained in statement by the state’s communications and orientation commissioner Chris Nehikhare.
According to the statement, the state government expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
“Governor Godwin Obaseki has ordered the Commissioner of Police, Funso Adegboye, to fish out the perpetrators of the evil act within the next seven days,” he said.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu flew to Pretoria for yesterday’s second term inauguration of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on a chartered aircraft because of the poor state of the presidential jet, it was learnt.
The President left from Lagos on Monday aboard the chartered plane instead of the 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) nicknamed Nigerian Air Force 001, which is the official aircraft of the President.
A source in the government said the BBJ is undergoing C-Check making it unavailable for the trip.
Besides, other planes in the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) are equally not in a good state to make the journey.
Earlier in the year, a trip by Vice President Kashim Shettima for an assignment in the United States (U.S.) was aborted at the last minute because his official jet developed fault.
The source said: “The President took a chartered plane to South Africa because most of the aircraft in PAF are currently undergoing routine maintenance because of their poor condition.
“The 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) being used by Mr. President is also affected. The plane is more than 20 years old.
“None of the other jets in the fleet could be recalled from where they are undergoing check to fly the President to South Africa.
“Technically, the aircraft which flew the President to Lagos for Eid-el Kabir was not fit enough to make the shuttle to the inauguration of the South African President.
“President Tinubu does not derive pleasure in flying about in a chartered jet. What will he gain? But when it comes to technical audit of the aircraft of PAF, safety is a top priority. It is better to mitigate any risk than aggravating it.”
There are 10 aircraft in the Presidential Fleet, including six jets and four helicopters.
They are Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) 737, Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream G500, two Falcons 7X, HS 4000, two Agusta 139 and two Agusta 101.
A source said no aircraft was in good condition to make a flight to South Africa.
The source explained that in the last one year, the President has been weighing options on how to reduce the aircraft in the presidential fleet from 10 to seven as part of cost-saving measures.
The three aircraft likely to be on the shelf are the 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), Falcon and Embraer jets.
The BBJ was bought at about $43 million when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo held the fort as President.
But the Federal Government has been advised to replace the Nigerian Air Force 001.
The presidency has spent over N80 billion since 2016 on the Presidential Fleet, which is being managed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The breakdown of the past budgets on the Presidential Air Fleet is as follows: 2016 (N3.65 billion); 2017 (N4.37 billion; 2018 ( N7.26 billion); 2019 (N7.30 billion); 2020 (N6.79 billion); 2021 (N12.55 billion); 2022( N12.48 billion) and in 2023 about N25.7 billion, which comprised N13billion in the budget and N12.7 billion Supplementary Budget.
The President is believed to be uncomfortable with the rising cost of maintenance of the fleet.
Tinubu has asked for the reduction of the fleet from 10 to seven in the first phase.
Although a new aircraft may be acquired, there were indications that the fleet may be reduced by the President.
Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2016 proposed to sell two aircraft – Dassault Falcon 7x executive jet and a Beechcraft Hawker 4000 business jet.
Although preferred bidders had agreed to pay $24 million for the two aircraft, they later reduced their offer to $11 million, which was rejected by the Buhari administration.
[TheNation]
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said 23 local government councils in the state will operate from alternative secretariats following Tuesday’s sealing of the councils by the police.
The governor, who said this after swearing in the 23 local government caretaker committee chairmen on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, said they could operate from anywhere.
Fubara stated this as the police barred the newly inaugurated caretaker chairmen from from accessing their offices in all the 23 LG headquarters. The secretariats were barricaded with police patrol vans manned by armed policemen.
The state police command had on Tuesday announced that it had taken over all the LG council headquarters to forestall further bloodshed and to prevent a breakdown of law and order.”
A policeman and a member of a local security outfit were killed during a clash between supporters of the governor and his predecessor, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike at Eberi-Omuma in the Omuma Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.
Fubara and his predecessor have been embroiled in a bitter disagreement since late last year.
The crisis led to the bombing of the state House of Assembly last year, factionalised the House while the governor survived an impeachment by Martin Amaewhule led 27 lawmakers of the House loyal to the FCT minister.
The crisis worsened on Tuesday when youths loyal to the governor dislodged some chairmen loyal to Wike after the expiration of their tenure.
The three-year tenure of the 23 chairmen expired on Monday but they had vowed to remain in office, citing the Local Government Amendment Law 2024 made by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
The law by the 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Wike, empowers them to remain in office for six months due to the failure of Fubara to conduct local government elections.
Caretaker chairmen
The governor after swearing in the newly appointed caretaker committee chairmen in the Government House on Wednesday, charged them to eschew violence, maintain the peace, and be guided by the Constitution.
Fubara also directed the Auditor-General of Local Governments to commence an immediate audit of the accounts of the 23 councils, adding the new appointees could operate from anywhere
He said that the swearing-in of the chairmen would ensure seamless administration of local governments following the expiration of the tenure of elected chairmen and councillors in the state.
He warned them against any form of confrontation, insisting that such was not in his nature and style but advised them to be law-abiding as they take full control of the local government councils.
He said, “Whatever happened yesterday (Tuesday), I know and the world knows that it is not from you people. Some people caused it. So, let us not allow them to continue to make our state look bad in the comity of states.
“So, when you go back, if there is any situation, you should be law-abiding. I don’t want any confrontation. You can operate from anywhere for now. But the most important thing is that you have the control of the local governments today.”
Fubara defends appointments
Defending the appointment of the caretaker chairmen, he stated, “What is happening here now is a defence of democracy. We will not allow the wrong precedent to be created in this country.
“It is not about Rivers State. It is not about Fubara. But if in any way this attempt at tenure elongation succeeds in Rivers State, it becomes a norm in Nigeria.
“So, we have taken it upon ourselves to say, not on our watch will it happen because it is completely alien to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Fubara wondered why the tenure of elected officers would expire, and they would want to perpetuate themselves in office against their oath of office and the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria.
The governor said such insistence to elongate the tenure of council chairmen would not happen in the state.
He pointed to the importance of knowing how the finances of the 23 Local Government Councils were managed in the last three years and directed the Auditor-General of Local Governments to begin auditing the accounts and make the report available within the next month.
He urged the new chairmen to ensure payment of the outstanding financial benefits and entitlements, including salaries of the immediate past chairmen, vice-chairmen and councillors.
He added, “I am not of the class to say that because something happened, you should maltreat them. No. Whatever is their entitlements, ensure that they get them.”
Fubara instructed the caretaker chairmen to work hard to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order in their various council areas.
He added, “Please, I want to appeal to you that when you go back, I don’t want a crisis. Just manage the situation as much as you can. God does not start and end halfway. That is the truth. Since God has started with us, He will complete His work in our lives.
“I don’t want any fight. I don’t want any life to be lost because it does not earn me anything. We know that we can overcome, and we have been overcoming.”
Reiterating that the caretaker chairmen would soon leave office, he said, “Let me also sound very clear here that your tenures are not going to be too long because as a matter of fact before the end of today or tomorrow, there should be a process for the commencement of elective local government chairmen in our dear state.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led State House of Assembly loyal to the governor had during plenary screened and confirmed the nominees,
The list of seven-member nominees per local government council was forwarded to the Assembly under Section 9 (5) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018, for screening and confirmation.
Secretariats shut
One of our correspondents who went round the state reported that the LG secretariats of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ogu/Bolo and Ikwerre and other council headquarters across the state were under lock and key with police patrol vans stationed and fierce-looking operatives.
The caretaker Chairman of the Ikwerre LGA, Dr Darlington Orji, said he was not able to access the council following the barricade mounted by the police. He, however, said he had assumed duties and could control the council affairs from anywhere.
Orji stated, “The police have taken over the place. When the police have taken over the place, what do you expect me to do?”
When asked if had started work, he responded in the affirmative.
Also, the caretaker Chairman of the Ogu/Bolo LGA, Evans Bipi, who could not access the secretariat, inaugurated other committee members outside the council secretariat and charged them to serve with diligence and honesty.
He said although the council was shut, he had assumed duties.
One of our correspondents observed on Wednesday that the Federal High Court along Azikiwe Road and the State Judiciary complex housing the State High Court were locked, although no reason was been given, but it might be due the tension in the state.
Speaking to the correspondent on the development, the state Commissioner for Police, Olatunji Disu, said the LG council headquarters would remain shut for the time being due to the clash between the feuding parties.
Disu stated, “It is because two groups are fighting over something. Two groups are fighting over it. The other group is waiting to tackle them. We have to prevent them from clashing and killing one another like they did yesterday (Tuesday) and killed a policeman and one other person.
“So we have to prevent them from going in. We have locked up the local government secretariats. If we allow them (caretaker chairmen) to go in, other people will come out and clash. Then people will ask what are we doing as police officers?
“We are here to prevent a breakdown of law and to protect lives and property. So we know definitely if there is a clash, anything can happen. So we are doing our jobs of protection of lives and property.”
On why local government workers were not allowed into their offices, he said, “For the time being nobody should come in. If we allow local government workers to come in, others will sneak in. So it will still boil down to the same thing. How do we sit and those who are not workers sneak in?
“So it is better we lock up the place and ensure that there is peace. And that is exactly what we are doing.”
State of emergency
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress in the state has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the state, saying the governor and the police are helpless over what it termed ‘war in the state.’
The state APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, while briefing newsmen at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said, “I have been informed that the federal and state high courts cannot sit because of palpable fear. Young men are brandishing all manner of guns, so we are in trouble in the state. We are in a state of war.
“It is because the governor is un-teachable and he does not listen to counsel, even the counsel of the President. The APC in Rivers State is asking and demanding a state of emergency. That is the way it is so that you and I will live in peace. I say so because it will be too late to cry when the head is cut off.
“The Federal Government should do what it should do to ensure that this state of anarchy we are heading to, does not degenerate for us to be seeing fire everywhere.”
Noting the importance of the state in terms of the economy of Nigeria, he said the country would be in trouble if there was anarchy in the state.
But in a swift reaction, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, faulted the APC’s call for emergency rule, saying Okocha’s comments were not worth responding to.
Johnson stated, “On Tony Okocha I don’t think that what Okocha said is worth giving any attention. We should not break our heads over what Tony Okocha said.
“The other time he said there was a cholera outbreak. When the medical personnel visited the place they said there was nothing like that. Another day he (Okocha) said he was welcoming members of the House of Assembly who defeated the APC. What is the position today?
“He also said that he was going to ask the members of the House of Assembly to commence impeachment of the governor, what is the position today?”
On the police refusal to allow the CTC chairmen access to their various councils, the commissioner said,” I am not in a position to speak for the caretaker committee chairmen.
“I am the Commissioner for Information in Rivers State and I can only speak for the state government. The caretaker committee chairmen are in a better position to speak on the matter by themselves.”
But the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, faulted the call by the state chapter that President Bola Tinubu should declare a state of emergency in the state.
Duru, in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, explained that there was no justifiable reason to drag the President into the crisis.
According to him, the matter is still within the purview of the law enforcement agents.
He said, “This is my personal view. This is something that lies within the purview of the law enforcement agents and Mr President cannot be dragged into matters such as this. Truly, we are in a democracy. What underpins democracy essentially is the rule of law, procedure and obedience to the relevant orders of the court
“So, Mr President cannot be dragged into isolated issues or issues that have to do with the functionalities of states such as this. That is my view.”
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered a thorough investigation into the killing of the police officer and a vigilante operative in the state.
He also directed the probe of the general violence which erupted in the state.
During a clash between supporters of Fubara and Wike on Tuesday, in Port Harcourt, a policeman and a vigilante were killed.
The Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Wednesday, said the IG directed the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, to heighten security measures across the state.
The statement reads, “The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, condemns in the strongest terms the recent outbreak of violence and subsequent breakdown of law and order at various local government council secretariats in Rivers State, where supporters of two political factions clashed over the tenure of local government council chairmen, which unfortunately led to the tragic deaths of a Police Officer – Inspector David Mgbada, and Samuel Nwigwe, a vigilante member at Eberi-Omuma in the Omuma Local Government Area.
“In response to these heinous acts, the IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Olatunji Disu, to heighten security measures across the state and institute thorough investigations into the killing of the police officer and the vigilante operative, as well as the general violence which erupted in the state.”
Adejobi said Egbetokun also deployed operatives of the Force Intelligence Response Team to assist the Rivers State Command in apprehending the killers of the police officer and the vigilante member.
“The IGP has specifically deployed operatives of the Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to assist the Rivers State Command in apprehending the killers of the police officer and the vigilante member.
“The IGP seriously warns individuals and groups of people who have a penchant for senseless attacks and mindless killings of police officers and other security operatives across the country to desist forthwith as the fullest force of the law will be meted on them.”
In a related development, the Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that there is a plot by the APC to take over the state, saying the plot has failed.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, while responding to a call for a state emergency by the Rivers State APC, called on the Federal Government and the APC’s national leadership to immediately intervene and advise Okocha (the state APC chairman) to cease his actions as they posed a threat to democracy and stability in Nigeria.
The statement read in part “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to yet another hallucinating press conference by the Rivers State Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Tony Okocha wherein he again fantasized that the will of the people of Rivers State as expressed in the governorship election which produced Governor Siminalayi Fubara can be upturned by the imagination of the APC.
“This reckless outburst by Tony Okocha further exposes the sinister plot by the APC in Rivers State which has been seeking ways to instigate crisis, forcefully overthrow a democratic order and impose an anti-democratic regime in Rivers State in clear violation of Section 1 sub-section 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“The use of the word ‘war’ by Mr Okocha in his statement clearly shows an evil intention which has been firmly resisted and will continue to be resisted by the people of Rivers State.
“The APC in Rivers State should note that its malevolent scheme to instigate crisis and forcefully take over the state has failed. Rivers State is a stronghold of the PDP and the people are solidly behind the Government of the PDP in the state.”
[Punch]