Opposition federal lawmakers known as the G60 have lauded Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his democratic disposition, which allowed pro-Wike local government chairmen in Rivers State to complete their tenure in office without disruption.
The tenure of the elected council chairmen in the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, who were sworn in three years ago during Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration, expired on Monday, June 17, 2024.
Consequently, the lawmakers in a statement signed by their spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, reiterated that Governor Fubara displayed uncommon democratic character by not removing them as most state governors did as soon as they took over the reigns of powers in their states.
According to them, the Rivers State governor with his background as a career civil servant and bureaucrat allowed the law and due process to take their course despite open confrontation and insubordination by the chairmen whose allegiance was to former Governor Wike and not their current superior authority in the State.
They said unlike in other states like Benue where the governor dissolved the local government councils even without provocation and constituted a caretaker committees twice, Fubara allowed elected local government chairmen in Rivers State, who dared his authority at several times, to complete their three-year tenure with all the benefits accruing to them.
“The tenure of the local government councils chairmen in Rivers State ended today, been June 17, 2024 as Governor Fubara had allowed the local government system function democratically. He didn’t dissolve them even when he had issues with his predecessor and allowed them to continue in office until the expiration of their tenure which came on the 17th of June.
“The Governor deserves accolades of Nigerians including his predecessor who ensured the local government chairmen democratically elected under the administration of Chibuike Amaechi who handed over to him in 2015 were sacked using the court and appointed a caretaker committee.
“We recall how Wike disregard
the National Industrial Court of Nigeria presided over by Hon. Justice J.T. Agbadu-Fishim in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state order which granted an order of interim injunction against the Governor of Rivers state, the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Attorney-General of Rivers State and their agents from dissolving, suspending, sacking terminating or in any manner whatsoever interfering with the tenure of office of the 23 Local Government Councils of Rivers state.
“The order, in Suit No: NICN/YEN/26/2015, which was granted on Monday, 22nd June, 2015 followed a motion ex-parte and affidavit of extreme urgency filed by the 23 Local Government Council Chairmen on behalf of themselves and the 23 Local Government Councils of Rivers state.
“The order also restrained the Inspector-general of Police or his agents and privies from enforcing any purported action detrimental to the existence of the 23 Chairmen and Councils in Rivers state but Wike went ahead and sacked the chairmen, appointed and inaugurated a caretaker committee on July 9, 2015.
“However, Fubara being law abiding, gentleman, democrat and peace builder, did not interfere with the local government system and waited patiently for their tenure to expire and swallowed all bitter pills given to him by the pro-Wike chairmen and their paymasters.
“As the saying goes; ‘Time changes all things’, today the Rivers State local government council chairmen today bowed out, letting Fubara to have peace and concentrate on moving Rivers State forward while the former chairmen can now move to Abuja if they want or are allowed by their master to continue their servitude to him if he can continue to foot their bills now that they no longer have government funds at their disposal,” the statement said.
