Former chairmen from 21 of Rivers State’s 23 local government areas protested on Monday in their respective council regions.
Former council chiefs loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, protested in their local councils despite the state Police Command’s advice against protests.
Former Chairman Onengiyeofori George and his followers marched through Buguma, the council headquarters of the Asari-Toru LGA, gyrating to songs in solidarity with Wike.
They held posters with inscriptions urging the police to continue occupying the municipal headquarters. Several of the inscriptions read, “Sim Fubara Can’t Continue to Act As He Likes” and “There’s No Vacancy in Asari-Toru Council.”.
According to Channels Television, the protest in Asari-Toru LGA nearly became violent when several men thought to be operatives of Asari Dokubo’s private military business, Amama troops, attempted to attack the protestors.
The Amama soldiers were quickly detained by highly vigilant police officers. The demonstrators later handed over a protest letter to the police.
A demonstration was also held in Abonnema, the headquarters of the Akuku-Toru LGA council, in support of the police’s continuing closure of government offices.
Recall that the police seized over the 23 LGA council secretariats in the oil-rich South-South last Tuesday, following a crisis sparked by the former LGA chairmen’s three-year mandate expiration. Following the crisis, three deaths were recorded.
