PeakNews Online
Port Harcourt, June 19, 2024 – Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara swore in new caretaker chairmen for the state’s 23 local government areas on Wednesday.
This inauguration followed the swift screening and approval of the nominees by the state House of Assembly, led by factional Speaker Victor Jumbo.
The governor had submitted the list of nominees to the Assembly on Tuesday, with the screening scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, as stated by the Clerk of the House, G.M. Gillis-West. The nominations come at a time of heightened political tension, as former council chairmen have refused to vacate their offices despite the expiration of their tenure.
The swearing-in ceremony is currently underway at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, under tight security measures. According to Peaknews Online, the first batch of eleven caretaker chairmen is taking their oaths of office.
This development is part of Governor Fubara’s efforts to address the ongoing political crisis, marked by clashes between supporters of the governor and those of his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike. The crisis has already resulted in violence, including the death of a policeman during a confrontation at the Eberi-Omuma secretariat in Omuma Local Government Area.
To maintain order, police have taken control of the 23 council secretariats, ensuring a secure environment for the swearing-in of the new caretaker chairmen.
