By Milcah Tanimu
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has found support from the local government area chairmen in Rivers State for their call to swiftly initiate the impeachment process against the state governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Representing the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Rivers State Chapter, the 21 LGA chairmen underscored the urgency of the call, emphasizing its significance in safeguarding democracy and upholding the Rule of Law.
During a press briefing held in Port Harcourt, Chairman of ALGON in the state, Hon. Allwell Ihunda, who also serves as the chairman of Port Harcourt City LGA, criticized the governor’s decision to withhold allocations from the LGAs since April. Ihunda condemned this act as a display of executive misconduct, highlighting the governor’s failure to convene the Joint Account Allocation Committee Meeting (JAAC), which is essential for fund disbursement between the state and LGAs.
Ihunda labeled the governor’s actions as unlawful, asserting that they posed a threat of veering the state towards totalitarianism. He stated:
“The Rivers State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, GSSRS, has deliberately neglected its duty to hold the statutory Joint Account Allocation Committee Meeting (JAAC), withholding funds due to the Local Governments in the State. This has left the third tier of government starved of the necessary funds to fulfill its obligations.”
Furthermore, Ihunda accused the governor of attempting to undermine the established system of Local Government guaranteed by the constitution, pointing out the governor’s directive to bypass elected Local Government Chairmen in salary payments.
In light of these concerns, ALGON urged the Federal Government, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene and ensure the adherence to democratic principles in Rivers State. Additionally, they called upon the Rivers State House of Assembly to take necessary actions to curb the governor’s excesses and uphold democratic institutions.
In response to the impending expiration of their tenure, the Legal Adviser of ALGON, Chief Hon. Dr. Irastus Awoto, who chairs Andoni LGA, affirmed that the democratically elected Chairmen would not vacate office. Citing the law which allows them to remain in office for an additional six months in the absence of elections, Awoto emphasized their commitment to upholding the law and resisting any attempts to disrupt governance at the local level.