The Nigerian union of the local government, River state chapter employees on Monday revealed their plans to hold a massive protest against the police force
Clifford Paul, The NULGE president had said the union will hold a protest on Monday to challenge the police barricade on local government secretariats
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was given four days to order his men to leave the 23 LG councils so that the caretaker chairmen appointed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara will resume.
According to the State Chairman of the TUC, Ikechukwu Onyefuru, in a Port Harcourt interview he said the protest had been called off.
“We hereby step down all our planned peaceful protests slated for tomorrow, Monday, June 24, 2024.
“It is now clear to us that Rivers State has known enemies. There is no war in Rivers State. The state is enjoying peace.
“As organised labour, we have suspended all our actions. However, we will continue to pursue by legitimate means a process to get our workers back to work.”
The governor also had announced on Wednesday the list of caretakers committee for the council but the police stepped in to prevent a breakdown of order when they barricaded the secretariats, stopping the newly appointed council from resuming office.
He stated, “We are democrats and we must defend this democracy. The beauty of democracy is the rule of law. That is what we stand to defend. We are not going to relent from doing this.
“The police are here to maintain law and order. Their constitutional duty is to protect lives and property.So when we heard that some people wanted to come and cause mayhem, we decided to say we won’t stand, fold our arms and see it happen.
“It took us a lot to keep the secretariat the way it is today and we won’t allow anybody to come and destroy it. We are here to support what the police are doing.
“The police will not allow them to enter. If they do, we will also get into the councils and what they want to avoid will happen and it will not be in the interest of anybody.”
Dr. Samuel Nwanosike , in ikwerre also led many supporters to the police barricade in isiokpo.
He said he remained the legitimate chairman of the council.
He said, “I am still serving this council. Today I have five months and 25 days remaining in office by the laws made by Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
“We got credible information that those who are members of the caretaker committees in the name of civil servants and who want to be judges in their own matters, had gone to connive with hoodlums to come and intimidate and harass the police to leave the council.
“Nothing on earth will make us break the laws of Nigeria and nothing on earth will make us disobey your orders. We have been patient with the Nigerian police even when it hurts us we still understand that the constitution is the grund norm and the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.
“We are not here to foment trouble but if they want to take their luck too far, we are here to state that we own this council. These men and women here laboured and inconvenienced ourselves to rebuild this council from scratch when these hoodlums struggling to enter this council embezzled all that was available to them and refused to work for this council.
“Today the council is a beautiful edifice, an envy of all and everybody is doing everything to come and occupy it. It is a good thing but what we are saying is we didn’t create the lacuna that is happening today.
“Our governor refused to conduct elections as provided by law and you know in governance there is no vacuum. We are here to state that as long those miscreants don’t come here we will continue to stand by the side, eat and drink.”
One of the conveners, Kingsley Ohunda said: “We are Rivers people, and as you can see this is a harmless and an armless protest.
“The police have asked everybody to steer clear of the council premises. We got information that there are people who are trying to protest and ask the police to leave the gate, but we are saying no.
“The matter before the court is going to be decided soon. When that matter is decided, whoever is supposed to be in the council, should go to the council.
“So what we are saying is that the police should remain and maintain peace and order. As you can see, we are peaceful and law-abiding. What we are doing is to ensure that democracy survives in Rivers.”
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