The Rivers State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria has criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accusing him of mishandling the funds intended for the 23 LGs in the state over the past 12 months.
The association also claimed that the governor held back the LG funds for April, and the Emuoha council hasn't received its funds since March 2024.
The group pointed out that the Fubara-led state government's actions have prevented the local government chairmen from carrying out their responsibilities in managing their councils, effectively abolishing the local government system in the state.
They also declared that they won't leave their positions when their term ends later in June, citing a law that allows them to stay in office for at least six months, as the governor has not shown readiness to hold local government elections.
The State ALGON Chairman and Executive Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Allwell Ihunda, stated this at a news briefing in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Wednesday.
Ihunda, accompanied by 21 colleagues, also criticized the governor for not releasing security funds to the councils, which are used to protect the LGs, viewing it as a display of autocracy and dictatorship.
Also, the ALGON Legal Adviser and Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Chief Erastus Awortu, explained why the council chairmen plan to remain in office beyond June when their term ends.
Awortu clarified, “Yes, we were elected in 2021 and our term will end in June. By now, local government elections should have been held and finalized, awaiting the inauguration of the victors.
“But the state House of Assembly has acknowledged that no steps have been taken regarding local government elections and to prevent a leadership vacuum, we must uphold a democratically elected system as stated in the constitution and Rivers State local government law.
“The House has stated that until elections are conducted, these local governments will remain in office for another six months in the meantime.”
Awortu noted that the LG chairmen took legal action because the state government had not displayed any intention to hold local government elections.
He added, “But what we are witnessing is associates of the governor and even the governor himself, making statements that on the 17th or the 18th they will storm the local government offices and harm anyone they find. This is an invitation to chaos.
“We, as local government chairmen, are going to stay in office due to the recently amended local government law that establishes and outlines the term and operation of local governments in Rivers State as stipulated by the Constitution, which grants us an additional six-month period. And we will stay in office until that period elapses.
“It has been carried out in other states; recently in Zamfara State, they extended. So we anticipate that the governor will act rationally and hold local government elections rather than trying to incite unnecessary violence in the state.”
He cautioned against thugs taking over the local government offices.
On his side, the leader of Emuoha Local Government Area, Dr Chidi Llyod, expressed regret that council chairmen who had supported the governor during the elections are now facing difficulties.
The state House of Assembly recently overrode the governor to approve the State Local Government Amended Law, which allows the council chairmen to continue in their positions for an additional six months if the governor does not hold LG elections.
All 23 local government chairmen in the state were elected during the tenure of Fubara’s predecessor and estranged political mentor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
