Ad
Rivers: LG Caretaker Committees functioning despite police barricades, S/Court ruling
Governor Fubara swearing in the LG CTC Chairpersons
Next Stay Exploring Ba Vi’s Dragon Fruit Garden [NếmTV] 40 42 00:00 00:00 / 00:00 10 Sec Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Okafor Ofiebor/ Port Harcourt
The Caretaker Committee Chairpersons CTC appointed for the the 23 local government areas in Rivers State by Governor Siminalayi Fubara have been performing their duties unhindered despite the barricades by Police and the recent Supreme Court ruling.
They were sworn in after after the tenure of elected chairpersons for the council expired on June 17.
Our Correspondent reports who has been tracking the activities of the CTC Chairmen observed they have strictly adhered to the directives issued to them by Governor Fubara during their swearing in.
Fubara had told them not to physically confront the former Local government Chairmen who are loyalists of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja but seek alternative venues to discharge their duties to avoid open violence and breach of security.
Fubara issued the caution on what he said was a grand plan to create violence and anarchy to justify the call for state of emergency to be imposed on the state by the Wike supporters.
After their swearing in, the CTC Chairmen reported to their various Council areas and sworn-in their members in alternative venues other than council Secretariats and dissolved all standing committees task forces, youth groups setup by their immediate past Chairmen in their respective councils.
In line with the directives of the Governor, they also pledged to pay all outstanding salaries owed by to workers by their predecessors and promised to focus on human capital development, economic empowerment, and employment generation to improve the quality of life of the people.
In line with this, the CTC Chairman of Khana local government area Marvin Yobana has paid the arrears salaries and allowances of workers for the months of May and June on the 27th of June.
This elicited jubilation among workers under the auspices National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE. They commended Khana LGA for being the first LGA to pay salaries and allowances for the months of May and on 27th of June 2024.
Also Yobana moved to avert further breakdown of law and order at Kaa waterfront in Khana local government area following recent confrontations between youths of Kaa community and maritime workers from neighboring communities in Andoni local government area.
He embarked on a brief tour of the area to assess the damaged properties as well as the dilapidated public facilities.
Yobana was accompanied on the visit by the Commissioner for Environment, Tambari Sydney Gbara, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Victor Kii, and some stakeholders in the area.
Also, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Asari Toru Local Government Area, Hon Orolosama Peter Amachree has restored water supply to Buguma City and its environs. The effort to restore power across the local government area is also intensifying.
Meanwhile, as the Chairman’s team works to replace stolen armored cables, a young man’s luck ran out early in the morning on July 1st, 2024, when he was caught stealing electrical cables at Horsfall’s Compound, Buguma City.
Amachree also embarked on a tour of the flood-prone areas within the local government headquarters, Buguma City. Accompanied by the council secretary, Habib Dokubo Asari, and other top officials, he vowed to tackle the flood menace with utmost seriousness. He also expressed his displeasure at the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the drainage system, a major cause of the flooding in the area, and urged the residents to desist from such practices.
Following the tour, the Chairman proceeded to the Kalabari National College (KNC) School field, where he was received by the Leader of the Simplicity Movement, Sobomabo Jackrich, and other organizations under the movement.
Sobomabo Jackrich, in his remarks, reaffirmed his support for Governor Sim, highlighting the governor’s proven track record of being pro-people and his commitment to implementing key infrastructure projects, such as the Trans Kalabari Road. He called on the people to go out and win more souls for the governor’s cause, assuring them of the value chain that comes with supporting him.
At Obio-Akpor local government area where Nyesom Wike hails the CTC, chairman Chijioke Ihunwo has asked the business community in the local government to stop having any dealings with the former chairman, George Ariolu and his loyalists.
Ihunwo issued the warning while inspecting some motor parks in the local government area.
He also asked companies operating in Obio-Akpor to be aware that all revenue committees of the council had been dissolved.
Ihunwo further cautioned the companies not to fall prey to paying their taxes to the former administration or its agents.
“Ordinarily, I shouldn’t have joined issues with the outgone chairman of council, George Ariolu, but for the benefit of the unsuspecting members of the public, I want to state it clearly that the tenure of Ariolu has expired and he lacks the power whatsoever to continue to ask you people to pay any kind of tax to him, any of you that will be caught doing so will be arrested and handed over to the Police for prosecution for aiding criminality in our LGA, so be wary of fraudsters masquerading as task collectors”.
Ihunwo took his tour to the Choba and Rumuola motor parks, accompanied by some members of the CTC and the immediate past leader of Obio-Akpor legislative assembly, Prince Achor Nna.
Also, the CTC chairman has constituted a seven-man committee to manage the affairs of Obio-Akpor International Market.
The committee is to manage the market and ensure compliance of the new directives by the council chairman.
On his part, the Ahoada West Local Government Area Chairman, Hon. Daddy Okpara Green John, recently paid a visit to the bustling Mbiama Market. During his visit, the Chairman interacted with the traders and market authorities, commending their hard work and contributions to the local economy.
- Protest: ALGON urges security agencies to check breakdown Of law, order
- Police advise Rivers LG workers against protest
- I faced most vicious political attack barely three months in office – Fubara
He also announced the dissolution of all existing revenue collection committees within the market. This initiative aims to streamline operations and establish a more direct partnership with the traders.
Furthermore, the Chairman, Daddy John acknowledged the challenges faced by traders due to traffic congestion on market days. He revealed plans to collaborate with the State government to explore relocating the market to a more spacious and strategically located area with minimal traffic risks.
The market community warmly welcomed the visit of the Chairman and his team and expressed their appreciation for his vision and commitment to their well-being.
At the Port Harcourt City Local Council Area, the CTC Chairman, Ezebunwo Ichemati has assigned supervisory portfolios to CTC Members.
There was excitement and jubilation when the CTC Chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, and former Chief Whip of the Rivers House of Assembly, Evans Bipi, paid a familiarization visit to Owuogono, Ele and Ikpo-Ama riverine fishing communities of Ogu/Bolo to assess the needs of the people with a view to improving on their well-being.
The Council Chairman promised to construct a modern Health Centre in Owuogono satellite Community to address the healthcare needs of the people, reduce morbidity and mortality rate occasioned by the lack of a Health Centre in the area.
He also promised to construct Potable Water Facility and a befitting Town Hall in the Community to address the problem of lack of safe drinking water with its adverse effect on the health of the people.
He also promised to overhaul the power generating set of the Community and ensure its regular maintenance for constant power supply while also promising to improve the quality of drinking water in the Community to prevent waterborne diseases.
In Ikpo-Ama riverine Community, the Ogu/Bolo Caretaker Chairman Evans Bipi promised to facilitate the connection of the Community to the National Grid for electricity supply and address other critical needs of the area within the available resources of the Council.
He also assured that the Community will benefit from the ambitious economic empowerment and human capital development programme of his administration.
The Caretaker Chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area has sworn-in over 150 appointees into office as a strategy of economic empowerment and wealth creation.
The Ogu/Bolo Council Boss while swearing-in the appointees at the Ogu Magistrate Court said the appointment is part of his policy on stomach infrastructure which aims at reducing hunger and boosting household economy in the area.
He said the benefits of the appointment will have a far-reaching impact on the appointees as it will trickle down to their families and communities.
Evans Bipi explained that the move is in line with Governor Fubara’s directive to the Caretaker Chairmen to empower the people to mitigate the current economic hardship in the land.
He charged the appointees to key into his development agenda, bring their experiences to bear and contribute positively to the development of the LGA.
Similarly, in Eleme local government council area, Chief Brain Gokpa, Chairman of the CTC is seeking collaboration with Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) to strengthen relationships and explore potential areas of empowering the host communities of Federal agency.
Gokpa urged the NPA management to prioritize the employment of local youths and improve their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs for the host community. “My people have been law-abiding, calm, and peaceful despite facing deprivation amidst abundance. I hope the companies will consider them in their employment and empowerment programs,” Gokpa said.
Port Manager, Hussain Abulrahmon thanked the council team for the visit and promised to accelerate responses to their requests. “We appreciate the peaceful nature of the Eleme people and will not take it for granted. We will improve our CSR to benefit the community,” Abulrahmon said.
Engr. Hope Marine , a critical stakeholder in Eleme Local Government, urged the company to take the council’s demands seriously. “Youth empowerment is the most effective solution to youth restiveness. Our youths have the capacity to take up skilled tasks with the required leverage and training,” Igwe said.
The visit aimed to foster a stronger partnership between the local government and the NPA, promoting development and progress in the region.
At the Ikwerre local government, the CTC chairman,Dr. Darlington Orji with members of his committee inspected some of the abandoned projects in Ikwerre local government area.
At Community Secondary School, Aluu, school, Orji found out the school has been neglected without borehole water, toilet facilities and examination hall for the past 8 years.
In a quick response, Dr. Orji assured the management of CSS Aluu that his commitment to serve the people of Ikwerre local government can not be underestimated. He promised to rehabilitate the building of the school examination hall and a solid six (6) unit of toilets with borehole.
Recalled that, on the 24 July, 2023, the former chairman of Ikwerre local government council, Ishi Samuel Nwanosike, initiated the construction of the secretariat of the Government recognized traditional rulers of Ikwerre LGA, but was abandoned.
Dr. Darlington Orji also visited the “Wike International Bush Market”. and promised to rename it after a renowned Omagwa hunter. He said he would consult with the Chiefs and stakeholders of Omagwa to effect the name change.
Our correspondent reports that none of the 23 CTC Chairpersons have reported that the barricades by Police at the Council Secretariats and the judgment of the Supreme Court have stopped them from carrying out their duties just as they await the election in October.
