Rivers: Group warns ex-council chairmen against breakdown of law and order

The Human Rights Advocacy Network (HRAN) has called on the immediate past local councils chairmen in Rivers State to eschew acts that could lead to the breakdown of law and order in the state.

HRAN Country Representative, Mr. David Mathew, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, called on the council chairmen to abide by the dictate of the law.

HRAN called on relevant security agencies, especially the Nigerian Police and Department of State Security (DSS), to be proactive and watch out for anyone who may wish to cause anything that would lead to the breakdown of law and order in Rivers.

Recall that the tenure of the local government council chairmen came to an end today, June, 17 2024.

But Emohua Local Council boss, Chidi Lloyd, and few others from the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, had vowed not to vacate office after today, insisting that the tenure of the chairmen had been extended for six months by the state Assembly.

HRAN, however, said the purported tenure elongation by the aborted Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, had been quashed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“We read of the threats and promise to breach the peace and harmony in Rivers State by the immediate past local government chairmen in Rivers State, whose tenure expired by 12 noon today, June 17th, 2024,” HRAN said.

“According to the chairmen, their tenure was extended by six months by the Martins Amaewhule-led assembly, which amended Local Government Law Number 5 of 2018, amidst the political crisis in the state.

“It is necessary to remind the immediate past local government chairmen that, less than a month ago, a Rivers State High Court presided over by Justice Daketima Kio, nullified the six months tenure elongation of the state’s local government chairmen granted by the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.

“The Judge made the order while delivering judgement in a case filed by Enyiada Cookey-Gam & 6 Ors vs. The Governor of Rivers State & Ors.

“Justice Daketima Kio declared the Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, whose provisions extended the tenure of local government chairmen, invalid.

“The Judge ruled that the law was inconsistent with the 1999 constitution and section 9(1) of Rivers State Law No. 5 of 2018, which fixed three-year tenure for local government chairmen and councillors.

“The Judge stressed that the attempt to extend the tenure was unlawful and violated the officials’ oath of office.

“That judgement of the Rivers State High which nullified the extension of the tenure of local government chairmen in Rivers State is yet to be set aside.”

The Human Rights group added that “It therefore means, the claims by the immediate past local government chairmen is unknown to law, mischievous, criminal and an invitation to anarchy.

“We use this opportunity to caution the local government chairmen to desist from any plot to cause anarchy in Rivers State. Their refusal to leave office is not just unlawful but also treasonable.”

The group therefore, called on security agencies, “to ensure that all the 23 local government chairmen are monitored closely to ensure they don’t breach the law of the land”.

It would be recalled that a state High Court in Port Harcourt had, last month, nullified the tenure extension of the 23 local council Chairmen, declaring the Local Government Law No.2 of 2024, which extended the tenure of the Chairmen for six months after expiration of their tenure, as invalid.

Also, the Appeal Court, in its ruling last weekend, urged both parties in the matter to maintain the status quo.

Both the camp loyal to the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike and those loyal to the Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, have since laid claims to the Appeal Court judgement, saying it favoured them.