Governor Siminalayi Fubara Sunday took a firm control of local government administration in Rivers State with the inauguration of new chairmen in the twenty-three local government areas.
The formal ceremony is the climax of a dramatic election into local councils won by his alternate Action Peoples Party.
While taking the oath of his office, Fubara charged the new helsmen to follow his approach and not respond violently to the protest being planned for Monday, October 7, 2024 by the camp of the former governor, Mr Nyesom Wike.
Fubara claimed he had received intelligence report that the opposition camp had planned to mobilise 20 persons per unit in their local government ears to storm the council headquarters in protest against the new administration at the grassroots level.
He spoke shortly after the swearing in of the council chairmen at the Executive Chamber in the State Government House.
Fubara, who expressed happiness at the development, said: “I am so glad that the governor of PDP governors forum, Governor Bala Mohammed, is here with us. I am happy to announce that I still remain a member of the PDP.
“We were confronted with a desperate situation and we confronted it with desperate solution. We determined to salvage the local government councils and to the glory of God, that has been done and dusted. Michelle Obama said: When they go low, we go high.
“We will not go down low with them. We will use the legal means to preserve the assets and destiny of the State. We will ensure peace and order in the state. For the newly-sworn in chairmen, I want you to see yourselves as servants and not as emperors. Please, you should not see yourselves as the ultimate authorities at that level because of the power of your purse.
“We need development in the 23 local government areas. More has to be done for our people at the grassroots. Please, work for the betterment of your local government areas. Ensure that you run an open government in the service of everyone.
“Nothing is bigger and greater than that. That is the structure when we work for the people and bring them in. That will be the fulcrum of this administration. I am aware that they are mobilizing 20 persons per unit to confront you when you resume tomorrow (Monday, October 7).
“When they are coming with violence, please avoid them. Please follow my approach. At the right time, you will always win if you are patient and calculative. We have made our promise to our people and we will take them to the promised land.”
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