Rivers LG chairmen distance selves from planned hunger protest

Members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, have dissociated themselves from the planned protest against hunger billed to commence on August 1 across the country.

Addressing a press conference in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Friday, the ALGON members, comprising chairmen of caretaker committees in the 23 local government areas of the state, said that they are against the planned protest because it is capable of being hijacked by hoodlums to loot and cause a break down of law and order.

Speaking on behalf of members of ALGON in the state, the Caretaker Committee Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Ichemati Ezebunwo, said that the state has been peaceful, adding that it was unnecessary to allow agents of destabilisation to plunge the state into instability, anarchy and chaos with needless protest.

Ezebunwo also reiterated the support of the ALGON members to the implementation of the key objectives of Mr President’s policies and programmes as enunciated in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.

He said, “ALGON, Rivers State, dissociates itself from the planned protest from August 1, 2024, by faceless individuals against the government and policies of President Tinubu.

“We state categorically that we are committed to cascading the key objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President in our various local government areas.

“We hereby call on the people to discountenance any planned protest as measures are being put in place to cushion the effects of the economic situation” in the country today.”

The state ALGON also expressed worries at the alleged involvement of police officers in the escalation of hostilities against members of the caretaker committees and Rivers people by the immediate past chairmen of local government councils.

While condemning the rising attacks on CTC chairmen and supporters of the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, the ALGON members cautioned those involved in perpetrating acts of violence and intimidation in the state to desist forthwith, and toe the path of peace.

They said, “We recall that earlier today, the immediate past local government chairmen made inciting statements bordering on claims to perpetuating themselves in office they had constitutionally ceased to occupy at the effluxion of time on June 17, 2024.

“We hereby warn these impostors to desist forthwith, and also call the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, to call them (immediate past LG chairmen) to order.”

The ALGON members urged the police to be professional, apolitical and neutral in the discharge of their duties.

They also condemned the attacks on ALGON members in Ikwerre and Obio/Akpor local government areas.