PROTESTERS in Rivers State have destroyed the statue of the state’s former governor, and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike.
According to a Daily Trust report, the protest occurred on Tuesday, June 18, in the Obio Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) of the state where Wike’s hometown is situated.
The protesters were spotted in a video circulating on social media, pulling down a portrait sculpture of the former governor.
Similar protests have also occurred in other parts of the state since Monday.
Youths in Degema and Asari-Toru LGAs occupied both council headquarters on Monday following the expiration of the chairmen’s tenure.
There were gunshots at the Port Harcourt City Council on Tuesday during a protest.
Protesters alleged that the shots were fired by policemen in the area to scare them away, as they demonstrated against the immediate past local government council chairman, Allwell Ihunda.
The protests followed the LGA chairmen’s refusal to vacate office upon the expiration of their tenure on Monday, June 17.
The chairmen, who were sworn in by Wike during his tenure as governor and are believed to be loyal to him, disclosed that they would remain in office beyond Monday, citing the Rivers State Local Government Amendment Law passed by the Martin Amaewhule-led 27 State House of Assembly members.
This is despite previous warnings by the state Governor Siminalayi Fubara directing them to vacate office upon the expiration of their tenure.
Early on Tuesday morning, Fubara directed the Heads of Local Government Administration in the state’s 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to take charge of affairs in the area councils.
“As we move forward in making sure that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is upheld, and that law and order is maintained as we continue to strive to provide leadership and direction for our people, I hereby direct Heads of Local Government Administration to continue to provide leadership in their respective local government areas,” Fubara said.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.