Vacate The Office When Your Tenure Expires, Gov Fubara Talk Tough to LG Chairmen

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has had enough of the local government chairmen overstaying their welcome. In a recent development, Fubara has given the council chairmen a gentle reminder that their tenure is about to expire and they should start packing their bags. This comes after the chairmen had a little pow-wow and decided they weren’t going to vacate their offices come June 2024.

The council chairmen, in a move that can only be described as “clingy,” have decided to lean on an amendment to the Local Government Law which allows them to stay in office for an additional six months if elections aren’t conducted. It’s like they’re the party guests who just won’t leave, even though the music has stopped and the lights are on.

Governor Fubara, not one to mince words, has essentially told them to take a hike. He’s warned that any chairman who hurts any well-meaning Rivers person will not be forgiven. It’s like he’s saying, “Don’t make me call the bouncer.”

The chairmen, on the other hand, have accused Fubara of withholding funds meant for the local government areas. They’ve also been quite vocal about their displeasure with the governor, with some even resigning from his cabinet. It’s like a political soap opera, and we’re all just waiting to see who gets voted off the island next.

In a surprising twist, the Rivers State House of Assembly has passed a bill into law without Fubara’s assent, allowing the local government chairmen to stay in office for another six months. It’s like the assembly is the cool parent who lets the party continue even after the other parent has said it’s time to go home.

The battle for the grassroot political structure of Rivers State is in full swing, and it remains to be seen who will come out on top. Will the local government chairmen finally vacate their offices when their tenure expires? Or will they find another loophole to cling onto? Only time will tell.