Rivers LG Chairman seals Council of Chiefs Hall, bar reception of ADP Governorship candidate in Rivers

• Says his actions is in compliance with executive order 22 of Governor Wike 

Eric Olusesan/Port Harcourt

Sequel to Executive Order 22 of Governor Nyesom Wike, the Okrika local government has sealed off the Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs (ODCC) hall scheduled for the reception of Victor Fingesi,  Governorship candidate Action Democratic Party, ADP.

The press statement reads:

“In compliance with the Executive Order 22, the Executive Chairman, Okrika LGA, Hon. Akuro Tobin JP, today Friday 9th December, 2022, sealed off the Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs (ODCC) hall, which was to be used to receive the ADP Gubernatorial candidate”,(Victor Fingesi).

Confirming the action of sealing the Hall of the Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs (ODCC), the Okrika local government Council stated that hall is a property of Okrika Local Government Council and action of the Council Chairman is within his powers as guaranteed by the law.

The Council Chairman, Akuro Tobin, in press statement signed on his behalf by Derefaka Ajubo, the Chief Press Secretary Okrika Local Goverent Area stated that “there was neither prior notice nor permission from any quarters as enshrined in paragraph 3 and 4 in the Executive Order, and therefore has exercise his power in paragraph 6, and threfore will not tolerance such cacophonous(sic) meetings in Okrika LGA”.

Our Correspondent reports that Executive Order 21 and 22 issued by the Rivers State Governor have been described as “draconian Executive Orders” which are undemocratic with the sole purpose  to emasculate the opposition Politicians and their supporters from  freely campaigning and canvassing for for votes.

Governor Wike had severally defended Executive Orders 21 and 22, saying that the aim is restore order and normalcy in the political atmosphere in the state.

He said his administration owes nobody any apologies for the Executive Orders and whoever is aggrieved by it should challenge their legality in Court.

Wike drew examples from the state government which had challenged Executive Orders by President Muhammadu Buhari which it felt where not in tandem with the tenets of the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and against the interest of the state.

It is worthy of note that Victor Fingesi had in his previous media jabs at the administration of Governor Wike said his party would challenge the Orders in Court.

He had also said that Rivers state is poor, insecure despite humongous funds it receives from the federation account annually and the internally generated revenue. 

Fingesi said the major problem in Rivers was poverty, “which is the reason we are having increased rate of crime and insecurity”.