Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has expressed concern over President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks regarding the destruction of local government secretariats in Rivers State, specifically the mention of his name.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, Fubara acknowledged the President’s intervention but expressed discomfort with being singled out in the statement.
The violent incidents in Rivers State followed the swearing-in of newly elected local government chairmen, which resulted in clashes across several areas, including Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua.
In these locations, council secretariats were set on fire by political thugs, and gunfire erupted in Ahoada East as opposition forces resisted the new officials.
These events occurred shortly after the withdrawal of police security from the 23 council secretariats, a decision Fubara believes contributed to the unrest.
The elections, in which the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and police declined participation, saw the Action People’s Party (APP) winning 22 chairmanship positions, with the Action Alliance (AA) securing one seat. Following the unrest, President Tinubu ordered police forces to restore security to the secretariats and urged political leaders in the state to practice restraint and uphold the rule of law.
While Fubara welcomed the President’s call for calm, he reiterated that the crisis was not solely about him.
He pointed out that the real causes of the unrest are widely known in Rivers State.
He also criticized the police for withdrawing security forces from the council secretariats, which, in his view, allowed miscreants to exploit the situation.
Fubara urged that security be provided for the newly elected officials so they can perform their duties without further disruption.
