…police deny CTC c’ttee access to council secretariats

…urge past chairmen to return LGA property

By Davies Iheamnachor, PORT HARCOURT

The newly sworn-in Caretaker Committee Chairmen for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State have assumed duties.

The CTC Chairmen in resumption of office have inaugurated other members of their committee across the 23 LGAs of the state.

They also dissolved all standing committees and taskforce in their respective councils.

This was as police operatives stationed in front of the LGA offices stopped the newly inaugurated CTC Chairmen from accessing their council secretariats.

While police following the order by the State Commissioner of Police that all LGA council should be occupied by police and tactical units of the stopped the CTC Chairmen from entering LGA secretariats, it was alleged that the CTC Chairmen and members in Asari-Toru LGAs accessed the council secretariats.

The Governor of the state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Wednesday swore in the chairmen in Government House and urged them to promote peace at all times, adding that they can work from anywhere in the meantime.

Speaking after the swearing of his committee members in a venue adjacent to the council secretariat in Ogu, the CTC Chairman of Ogu/Bolo LGA, Evans Bipi, said his administration will focus on human capital development, economic empowerment and employment generation to improve the quality of life of the people.

Bipi promised to embark on massive stomach infrastructure to reduce hunger and poverty, adding that he would provide grants for small and medium scale enterprises to boost household economy in the area.

He advised his predecessor and his team to return all government property which are still in their possession.

He stated: “There will be human capital development, we will support women and men doing business because infrastructure without food in your stomach is zero. To the committee members he said, “Be firm and honest while discharging your duties. None of you should be deterred or intimidated.

“All council properties in the custody of the precious administration by any one, be it power generating set, pen and others should be returned because I will pursue you to the latter. I hereby dissolve all standing committees. If you are a standing committee, you stand dissolved.”

In Obio/Akpor LGA, the Chairman swore in members of his team in a hall away from the LGA council, he ordered the immediate dissolution of all standing committees and taskforce.

In Eleme LGA, the CTC Chairman, Brain Gokpa, after swearing in his members promised to give priority attention to security and collaborations.

“Many people have expressed fears that nobody can control Brain (himself), Brain is not a stupid person, he is a politician that knows that collectively we can achieve our aim because I know I cannot do it alone. We will carry our stakeholders and everybody along. So nobody should be scared.

“Fundamentally we will not play with security and no act of indiscipline. I have been active in the security of Eleme since 2015 so I know the dynamics of security in Eleme.”

In Khana LGA, the newly sworn-in CTC Chairman, Marvin Yorbana, promised to run an all-inclusive government, noting that young people, the elderly and women will be empowered.

Yorbana, said: “For our members let us work together as a team, collaborate, put ideas together even with the leaders of Khana both at the community and government levels, women and youths to make us succeed,

“This government is one of empowerment. We want to build the capacity of our people and attract businesses to Khana.”