Niger Delta leader and former militant warlord, Mujahid Asari Dokubo, has urged Local Government chairmen in Rivers State to acknowledge the end of their three-year tenure and “go home quietly.”
A new crisis is emerging in Rivers State over the tenure of the 23 council chairmen. Governor Siminalayi Fubara has directed these chairmen, who are supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to vacate office following the expiration of their tenure. However, the chairmen have refused, citing an extension granted by the pro-Wike faction of the Rivers House of Assembly.
The Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, amended the law to extend the LG chairmen’s tenure by six months, alleging that Fubara failed to conduct local government elections. The State ALGON Chairman, Allwell Ihunda, who is also the Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, maintains that this legislative amendment authorizes them to stay in office.
Speaking during the 2024 Eid-el-Kabir celebrations in Port Harcourt, Asari Dokubo stated that extending the tenure is unconstitutional. “Local government tenure has expired today (June 17, 2024). They should quietly go home. If they want to seek re-election in accordance with the Constitution, they should do so,” he said. He emphasized that any attempt to prolong their tenure beyond the constitutional limit is against the oath of office they swore to uphold.
Asari Dokubo, also known as the Edi Abali of Kalabari land, warned the former chairmen not to provoke the “people’s power,” stating, “Their position is tenure-bound, and that tenure has expired. Let them not cause unnecessary problems for the people of the state. And I want to advise young people, that: look, don’t allow yourselves to be used.”
He called on the youth of Rivers State to understand their role in protecting the state from self-serving individuals. Quoting a popular radio jingle, he said, “Love Rivers State or leave her alone. Don’t pull her down. Think what you can do for her, engage yourself in meaningful activities…”
Asari Dokubo asserted, “Only one man can be governor of Rivers State at a time. We would not have two governors at a time. The people of Rivers State are bigger than Mujahid Asari Dokubo. Rivers State is bigger than any individual. No individual can take Rivers State people for a ride and pocket us. It is not possible.”
He criticized those whose children are not involved in local affairs, contrasting them with leaders like Mandela and himself, whose children are engaged in their struggles. “Most of us (them), their children are not here, and their children have never come out to stand in front of any protest,” he added. “So, nobody should be allowed to be used.”
Concluding his remarks, Asari Dokubo noted the people’s resolve, saying, “The people are showing people’s power. The people have gone on their own to take over local government secretariats because it is about the people, and nobody can say that we voted for three years’ tenure for a chairman and the chairman should exceed one second of that tenure.”
“The people of Rivers State are exercising their power, and they are ready to take over until the government is ready to conduct a new election,” he declared.