On Monday, former chairmen from 21 of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State organized protests at their respective council locations. These ex-council leaders, who are supporters of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, defied a directive from the state Police Command that advised against such demonstrations.
In Buguma, the headquarters of the Asari-Toru LGA, former Chairman Onengiyeofori George led a group of supporters in a march through the streets, expressing their solidarity with Wike through songs. They carried placards with messages demanding continued police presence at the council headquarters, including statements like “Sim Fubara Can’t Continue to Act As He Likes” and “There’s No Vacancy in Asari-Toru Council.
”As reported by Channels Television, tensions nearly escalated at Asari-Toru LGA when individuals believed to be members of Asari Dokubo’s private military company, known as Amama soldiers, attempted to disrupt the protest. However, alert police officers intervened and prevented violence. The protesters eventually submitted a protest letter to the police.In Abonnema, the headquarters of Akuku-Toru LGA, another protest took place supporting the ongoing closure of council offices by the police.
These protests followed a crisis triggered by the expiration of the three-year terms of the former LGA chairmen. The unrest last Tuesday led the police to take control of all 23 LGA council secretariats in the South-South region, resulting in three fatalities.
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