The Local Government Area Chairmen in Rivers State have thrown their weight behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) call for the Rivers State House of Assembly to promptly initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The 21 LGA chairmen, operating under the umbrella of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Rivers State Chapter, stressed the necessity of this action to uphold democracy and enforce the Rule of Law in the state. Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt, Hon. Allwell Ihunda, the Chairman of ALGON in the state and also the chairman of Port Harcourt City LGA, lamented the governor’s withholding of allocations to the LGAs since April.
Ihunda condemned the governor’s failure to convene the Joint Account Allocation Committee Meeting (JAAC), which is essential for the release of funds to the LGAs, labeling it as executive misconduct. He criticized Fubara’s attempt to divert local government funds for salary payments without involving elected local government chairmen, deeming it illegal and an affront to the constitutionally guaranteed system of local government.
Asserting that Fubara’s actions seek to undermine the constitutionally guaranteed local government system, Ihunda urged the State House of Assembly to curb the governor’s excesses.
Meanwhile, Chief Hon. Dr. Irastus Awoto, the Legal Adviser of the ALGON, emphasized that the democratically elected chairmen would remain in office, as the law empowers them to stay an additional six months pending elections. Awoto highlighted the absence of progress in conducting local government elections and criticized threats of eviction from LG offices, labeling them as invitations to anarchy. He affirmed the chairmen’s commitment to remaining in office in accordance with the law until new elections are conducted.
