Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has assured residents that the state remains peaceful and safe despite recent security concerns regarding the administration of local government areas and calls for a state of emergency.
Governor Fubara made these remarks during a visit to Omuma Local Government Area, where two security operatives were recently killed amid a political crisis.
The governor was in the area to inspect the progress of the 14.6 km Omodu-Eberi road project.
Recall that on Wednesday, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, Chief Tony Okocha, made an urgent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a media briefing in Port Harcourt to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing severe security and governance challenges.
“The current security situation in Rivers State is untenable. We urge President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency and deploy armed soldiers to critical areas to prevent further deterioration of law and order,” Okocha stated.
According to the the governor, the state is not under siege contrary to perceptions formed from reports of protests and the police takeover of council secretariats.
During the visit, the governor was welcomed by excited residents and led by the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Promise Reginald.
The governor’s assurance comes on the heels of a directive from the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for the continuation of the police barricade on local government secretariats in Rivers State to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
IGP Egbetokun gave the directive while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja on the sideline of a conference with Commissioners of Police and other senior officers.
He said the police will continue to occupy the secretariats until a court of competent jurisdiction delivers judgment on the local government crisis in Rivers State.