Rivers caretaker committee chairmen caution against planned protest:
The caretaker committee chairmen, who are also members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers State Chapter, have described the planned protest as a scheme to create tension and incite anarchy in the state.
The newly inaugurated caretaker committee chairmen, have therefore put at alert the security agencies, including the police and the Rivers state government, as well as the public, about a planned protest that would be organized by the ousted former local government chairmen and former members of the state House of Assembly and National Assembly members.
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Rivers state ALGON chairman, Prince Ichemati Ezebunwo, said the protest was designed with the aim to destabilise governance, and create excuse to actualize their call for a state of emergency in the state.
ALGON, said: “We are drawing the attention of the general public to the planned protest by the immediate past local government chairmen, former House of Assembly members, and National Assembly members loyal to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, against the Nigeria Police Force stationed at the 23 local government councils across the state.
“The planned protest is not in the interest of the local governments and the state in its entirety. Rather, it is a calculated attempt by enemies of our dear state to paint the people of the state in bad light, unleash mayhem while at it and use it to further buttress their inordinate call for the declaration of a state of emergency in our dear state”.
“We emphatically state that we, members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, and our people are in support of the police decision to take control and protect all local government council secretariats until further directive on the matter.”
Ezebunwo, maintained that since assumption of duty of the caretaker committee chairmen, no one had attempted to forcefully take over or gain access to any of the local government secretariats in line with the Governor’s directive, until the police withdrew or removed whatever barriers put in place to protect government assets.
He further said: “We want to categorically state that we are not in any way linked to the planned protest, as it is inimical to the progress and well-being of the people of the state, considering the sinister plots by some desperate politicians to take advantage under the guise of protest, to cause chaos and destabilise governance in the state”
The state ALGON boss, who is also Port Harcourt City Council caretaker committee chairman, called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, to ensure the maintenance of law and order by checking any illegal protest in the state.
Ezebunwo, “Therefore, we call on all law-abiding citizens of our dear state to discountenance the planned protest and go about their lawful and legitimate businesses.
“We wish to place on record, that should there be a breakdown of law and order as a result of the planned protest, the ousted former local government chairmen and former members of the state House of Assembly and National Assembly members, should be held responsible.
The statement was signed by all the 23 local government council caretaker committee chairmen.
