• Lawmakers call for treason charges against former LG Chairmen
• Two security operatives killed amid crisis
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Jane Otu, South-South
The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has convened a security council meeting with heads of security agencies following recent political developments in the state.
The meeting was held behind closed doors at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
After the meeting, Governor Fubara told the press that discussions with the security heads centred on strategies to contain the invasion of local government secretariats.
He cautioned the immediate past council chairmen against harbouring false hopes of returning to their positions.
Two Killed, Police Take Over 23 Rivers LG Secretariats
Following the Local Government (LG) crisis rocking Rivers State in the oil-rich South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, two security operatives have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Though the details are a bit unclear, it was gathered however that the sad deaths which occurred in Omuma Local Government Area on Tuesday, might not be unconnected with the invasion of the council headquarters at Eberi-Omuma.
Confirming the incident to journalists, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said two deaths were recorded.
She said a policeman and a vigilante operative lost their lives in the crisis.
When pressed for further details, she said investigations have commenced and more details would be released soon.
Iringe-Koko said, “Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities.
“While urging all groups and individuals to be law-abiding, the Command also warn anyone who intends to cause mayhem as we will not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on them.
“We also wish to ask the law-abiding residents and visitors in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear. We are resolved to carry out our constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the governor directed heads of administration in the 23 local government areas to take over from the elected council chairmen whose three-year tenure elapsed on Monday.
However, 21 of the 23 outgone LG bosses have insisted that they won’t hand over, sparking some heated moments in the state.
Governor Fubara, however, raised an alarm over an alleged plan by his opponents to arrest his supporters.
He pledged to personally protect them, saying anyone attempting such arrests would have to confront him first.
Irate Youths Destroy Wike’s Statue In Rivers
Meanwhile, the bust statue of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has been destroyed by irate youths who stormed the Obio/Akpor council headquarters earlier Tuesday.
Some of the visibly angry youths, who spoke in a mix of the Ikwerre dialect and English, pulled the statue down while the others cheered him on.
The youths, who had invaded the council headquarters, claimed they were there to ensure the safety of council property following the expiration of the chairman’s tenure.
Wike, a former Chairman of Obio/Akpor, and former Rivers State governor, has been involved in a political feud with his former protege the governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara.
Lawmakers Urge Fubara To Charge Ex-LG Bosses With Treason
Some members of the House of Representatives under the aegis of G-60 have urged Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to charge former local government chairmen in the state with treason for attempting to continue in office despite the expiration of their three-year tenure.
The group led by the lawmaker representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, stated this at a press briefing held in Abuja on Tuesday. Aliyu Mustapha (PDP, Kaduna), Matthew Nwogu (LP, Imo) and Midaila Usman(PDP, Borno) were also at the press briefing.
Ugochinyere said, “We also appreciate Governor Siminalayi Fubara for being a democratic leader. Despite all the provocation, he allowed the former local government chairmen to complete their three-year tenure unlike his predecessor, who upon election in 2015, dissolved the local government chairmen under Governor Amaechi despite order of court.
“We wish to call on the government of Rivers State to immediately prepare treason charges against the 23 former LGA chairmen and their sponsors and co-conspirators for the failed attempt to unlawfully takeover the government of the 23 LGA knowing full well that their tenure had elapsed and they are no longer local government chairmen.”
“Section 37 Criminal Code Act (1) provides that “Any person who levies war against the State, in order to intimidate or overawe the President or the Governor of a State, is guilty of treason, and is liable to the punishment of death.
“(2) Any person conspiring with any person, either within or without Nigeria, to levy war against the State with intent to cause such levying of war as would be treason if committed by a citizen of Nigeria, is guilty of treason and is liable to the punishment of death:
“Provided that nothing in this section shall prevent any act from being treason which is so by the laws of England as in force in Nigeria,” he added.
