Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed unease over President Bola Tinubu’s public statement concerning the destruction of local government secretariats in the state, particularly due to the President’s specific mention of his name. Fubara shared his concerns during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, while reflecting on the crisis that has rocked the state.
The violent clashes, which erupted in at least four local government areas, resulted in the burning of council buildings in Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua, with gunfire reported in Ahoada East. These attacks followed the withdrawal of police officers guarding the 23 council secretariats. The destruction, widely attributed to political hoodlums, occurred after the swearing-in of 23 newly elected local government chairmen over the weekend.
The local elections had been boycotted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the police, leaving the Action People’s Party (APP) to win 22 chairmanship seats, while the Action Alliance (AA) secured one.
In his response to the crisis, President Tinubu, via a statement from his spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, ordered the police to restore security at the secretariats and urged Governor Fubara and other political leaders to maintain peace and respect the rule of law.
However, Fubara expressed concern over Tinubu’s statement, saying, “I do not have any issue with the President’s intervention, but I am a bit worried that my name was the only one mentioned.”
He further noted that the root of the crisis is widely known and unrelated to him, stating, “Everyone in Rivers State knows where the problem is coming from. It’s not about Fubara.”
The governor highlighted the withdrawal of police officers from the council secretariats as a contributing factor to the chaos, explaining that it created a security vacuum that allowed hoodlums to take advantage. He called for the return of security forces to protect the newly elected officials and ensure peace in the affected areas.
