Niger Delta leader and former militant warlord, Muhajid Asari Dokubo, has asked Local Government chairmen in Rivers State to accept the end of their three-year tenure and “go home quietly”.
A fresh crisis is brewing in Rivers over the tenure of the 23 council chairmen.
While Governor Siminalayi Fubara has directed the chairmen who have the backing of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to vacate office at the expiration of their tenure, they have refused on the grounds that the pro-Wike faction of Rivers House of Assembly has extended their tenure.
The Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly had amended the law to enable LG chairmen extend their tenure by six months over the alleged failure of Fubara to conduct local government elections.
The State ALGON Chairman, Allwell Ihunda, who doubles as the Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, insisted that the law by the House of Assembly empowers them to remain in office.
But speaking during activities to mark the 2024 Eid-el-Kabir celebrations in Port Harcourt, Asari Dokubo said tenure elongation is an aberration to the Constitution of Nigeria.
He said the former chairmen, whose tenure expired on June 17, 2024, could not force on themselves any extension of time that runs contrary to the oath of office they swore to and be tolerated.
Asari Dokubo, who is also the Edi Abali of Kalabari land, warned the former chairmen not to invite the wrath of, what he called, the “people’s power”, because it will descend on them to their dismay.
He said, “Local government tenure has expired today (June 17, 2024). They should quietly go home. If they want to seek re-election in accordance with the Constitution, they should do so.
“But there is no tenure elongation in the constitution. Their position is tenure-bound and that tenure has expired. Let them not cause unnecessary problems for the people of the state. And I want to advise young people, that: look, don’t allow yourselves to be used.”
Asari Dokubo said young Rivers’ people must know and understand what their roles are in protecting the state against those self-seeking individuals who think that it is their private estate.
Making reference to a popular radio jingle on Radio Rivers: “Love Rivers State or leave her alone. Don’t pull her down. Think what you can do for her, engage yourself in meaningful activities…”, Asari Dokubo insisted that the state is bigger than one individual.
He said, “Only one man can be governor of Rivers State at a time. We would not have two governors at a time. The people of Rivers State are bigger than Muhajid Asari Dokubo. Rivers State is bigger than any individual. No individual can take Rivers State people for a ride and pocket us. It is not possible.
“Most of us (them), their children are not here, and their children have never come out to stand in front of any protest. They’re not like Mandela and his children or me and my children or any other person. A lot of people have not done this. So, nobody should be allowed to be used,” he added.
“The people are showing people’s power. The people have gone on their own to take over local government secretariats because it is about the people, and nobody can say that we voted for three years’ tenure for a chairman and the chairman should exceed one second of that tenure.
“So, the people of Rivers State are exercising their power, and they are ready to take over until the government is ready to conduct a new election.”
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