Elected councilors from all the local governments in Rivers State have pilloried their chairmen, saying their desire to remain in office beyond the three years prescribed by the 1999 constitution, as amended, is borne out of greed.
The councilors said in a communique after their meeting on Saturday, that they have been going through hell in the hands of their chairman in the last three years and resolved not to take part in any form of tenure elongation protest as being instigated by the a few persons.
While commending the state governor, Sim Fubara for paying all workers’ salaries directly, the councilors said the chairmen were in the habit of denying their entitlements, including constituency project funds and legitimate allowances.
The communique was signed by Reginald Promise, Leader, Omuma Legislative Council, Larry ID Ibaningo, Leader, Bonny Legislative Council, Christian Ewah, Leader, Ahoada West Legislative Council, Samuel Manilla, Leader, Opobo/Nkoro Legislative Council, and Bernard UnweThankGod, Leader, Ahoada East Legislative Council.
They said “ the Chairmen whose tenure is winding down in few days’ time, have resorted to making unwarranted and unguided statements to sabotage the government of His Excellency, Ama-Opusenibo Sir. Siminialayi Fubara.
“It is on record that His Excellency has paid all civil servants as well as the political class, hence any kind of political sabotage in the guise of protest amounts to nothing but a nuisance by the Chairmen and the Councilors.
“In fact, there’s no better time to speak, than now, on how wicked, greedy and self centered these Chairmen have been in their ill-mannered treatment meted out on the councillors and LGAs at large. These Chairmen receive timely huge amounts of allocations and IGRs, yet they have done little to show for it, say for one or two LGAs that actually used the funds judiciously to the benefit of the people of their LGAs.
“It is interesting to know that, Councillors under the dispensation of these LGA Chairmen have been nothing short of slaves. No wardrobe allowances, no trainings, no car loans, no constituency projects in our various Wards, no severance package, not even a conducive legislative complex for us to do our work, yet, they have the mind to sabotage the efforts of His Excellency.”
They lamented that “some LGA Chairmen, up till this moment, have refused to present their Budgets; yet, they have been appropriating funds without following due process. That is how high-handed and corrupt they have become.
“This is the reason they are illegally clamoring through the back door to elongate their tenure in office, which we (Councillors) are not part of it, and disassociate ourselves from such. Their actions are nothing short of greed and selfishness, as they have planned on how not to pay salaries in the months of April and May, but for the intervention of His Excellency.
“In the light of the foregoing, we the Legislative Council Leaders, on behalf of the Councillors Forum, call on His Excellency, the good people of Rivers State and the general public to disregard any group of persons in any guise who plan to cause any form of security breach in the State. We therefore, call on His Excellency to call the Commissioner of Police and the State Director of DSS to beef up security within and around the State.”
