The immediate past chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers State have expressed their support for the suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amid the ongoing political crisis in the state.
The former LG bosses visited Fubara at his private residence in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, March 26, to reaffirm their allegiance and back his administration’s “Rivers First” agenda.
Leading the delegation was Prince Ezebunwo Ichemati, former chairman of the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers State Chapter, and former Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council.
During the visit, the chairmen offered prayers for divine intervention in resolving the state’s political challenges.
In a statement issued by Nelson Chukwudi, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fubara, the delegation urged Rivers people to remain united and law-abiding in order to prevent external forces from exploiting the crisis.
“This is a critical time for Rivers people to remain united and law-abiding to prevent adversaries from exploiting the situation,” the statement read.
Governor Fubara, along with his deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, were suspended following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a six-month state of emergency on March 18.
As part of the emergency measures, retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State to oversee governance during the period.