RIVERS State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has ordered the audit of all accounts of the state’s 23 local governments.
The audit will cover the past three years when the recently outed chairmen were in charge.
He gave the directive on Wednesday, June 19, while swearing in the caretaker committee chairmen of the council in Port Harcourt.
Fubara disclosed that the audit was to serve as a check for the new chairmen and a means of holding them accountable.
He urged the new chairmen to protect the people’s interest, adding that they would not spend too long in the position, as the local government election process in the state would commence soon.
“Take this opportunity as a call for service,” Fubara said.
The swearing-in occurred less than 24 hours after the governor submitted their names to the Rivers State House of Assembly, led its by factional Speaker, Victor Jumbo.
It also comes on the heels of fresh political tension in the state which saw residents stage protests in different Local Government Areas (LGAs) earlier in the week, as the immediate past chairmen refused to vacate their offices after their tenures expired.
The former LGA chairmen disclosed that they would remain in office beyond Monday, June 17, when their tenures expired, citing the Rivers State Local Government Amendment Law passed by the Martin Amaewhule-led 27 State House of Assembly members.
The development is widely believed to be an escalation of tension between Fubara and Wike, as the law was passed by the lawmakers who are loyal to the former governor, in April.
Some of the former chairmen were, however, forced out of their offices by youths loyal to Fubara on Monday and Tuesday.
The protesters also destroyed Wike’s statue in the Obio Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) of the state where his hometown is situated.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.