Protests unfolded on Monday across various council areas in Rivers State as former chairmen from 21 out of the 23 local government regions took to the streets.
These ex-council leaders, who remain loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, chose to defy the advisory against protesting issued by the state Police Command.
In Buguma, the headquarters of Asari-Toru LGA, former Chairman Onengiyeofori George, accompanied by his supporters, paraded through the town, engaging in spirited dance moves in solidarity with Wike.
They displayed placards urging the police to maintain their presence at the council headquarters. Some of the messages on the placards included, “Sim Fubara Can’t Continue to Act As He Likes” and “There’s No Vacancy in Asari-Toru Council”.
Reports from Channels Television revealed that in Asari-Toru LGA, the protest nearly escalated into violence when individuals believed to be affiliated with Asari Dokubo’s private military group, known as Amama soldiers, tried to attack the protesters.
Quick action by alert policemen prevented the Amama soldiers from causing harm. The demonstrators eventually handed a protest letter to the police.
In a separate incident in Abonnema, the council headquarters of Akuku-Toru LGA, some individuals came out to support the ongoing closure of council premises by the police.
It is worth noting that last Tuesday, the police seized control of the council secretariats in all 23 LGAs of the oil-rich South-South region due to the crisis stemming from the expiration of the former LGA chairmen’s three-year terms, during which three fatalities occurred.