Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon. Timothy Onwubueliri Nsirim, the vice chairman and all 17 councilors representing the 17 electoral Wards in the council have been sacked in a move that elongates the power tussle between Governor Chibuike Amaechi and Minister of State for Education, Barr. Ezebuwon Nyesom Wike.
Their removal by the Rivers State House of Assembly followed the presentation of a report submitted by its Committee on Local Government Affairs chaired by Hon. Lucky Odili representing Ogba/Egbema//Ndoni Constituency 2, which accused Nsirim and others of security breaches, embezzlement of public funds and other misdemeanours. Odili’s recommendation was that their stay in office would impede investigations.
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Felix Obuah condemned the action of the state legislature, saying those behind it were only interested in destabilizing the local government.
“There is no problem in Obio/Akpor,” he said. “Those who suspended them are only looking for a way to cause fear in the area. The people of Obio/Akpor should remain calm as we are going to challenge this in the court. It is an abuse of democracy which we will not allow to continue.”
Similarly, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) condemned the action, describing the state Assembly as an embarrassment to itself for failing to maintain an unbiased and objective position in the matter.
“It is unfortunate that the matter was never debated and taken according to the provisions of the relevant sections of the law,” he said.
ACN also noted the conduct of the State Assembly in the matter, saying it further confirmed its political immaturity.
“We are disappointed and ashamed by this action which is undemocratic, unpopular, regrettable, unjustifiable and indefensible,” the party stated in a release signed by Publicity Secretary Jerry Needam. “It is a show of the failure of our Legislative Arm, which clearly portrays their total dependence on the Executive Arm.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Chikodi Dike has already been selected to replace the sacked chairman.
