*Fubara Directs Audit Of 23 Councils Accounts

*PDP Warns Ex-Council Chairmen Against Disrupting Public Peace

THE Chairmen of the Caretaker Committee Chairmen for the 23 local councils in Rivers State have assumed duties, with the swearing-in of their members and dissolution of all standing committees, including all task forces set up by the former chairmen in their respective councils.

They also pledged to pay all outstanding salaries owed to their predecessors.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara had on Wednesday, June 19, sworn in the caretaker chairmen at Government House, Port Harcourt, charging them to promote peace at all times, insisting they could work from anywhere for the time being.

Fubara ordered an immediate audit of the accounts of the 23 local councils, saying it was important for Rivers people to know how the finances of the local councils were managed in the past three years.

He demanded that the auditing process must be thorough and the report submitted within one month, adding: “I officially mandate the auditor general to immediately commence the audit of the 23 local government councils in the past three years.

“This auditing is very important; we need to know how public funds were managed in the third tier system in the past three years.

“This process will help us to also keep those that are coming in on their feet. It is not business as usual.”

Fubara charged the new chairmen to ensure prudent management of resources and delivery of democracy dividends to the people, urging them to compute and pay outstanding financial benefits, including salaries meant for the former chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors.

“Avoid confrontation, endeavour to be law-abiding all the time as you take full control of the local government system,” he added.

Speaking after swearing in members of the committee at a venue adjacent to the council secretariat in Ogu, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Council, Evans Bipi, said vowed to focus on human capital development, economic empowerment and employment generation to improve the people’s quality of life.

Bipi also promised to embark on massive ‘stomach infrastructure’ to reduce hunger and poverty in the land provide grants for small and medium-scale enterprises to boost the household economy.

He charged the committee members to be dedicated to the discharge of their duties, firm and honest while discharging their duties and never to be deterred or intimidated.

While calling on his predecessor and his team to return all government property in their possession, Bipi said: “All council properties in the custody of the precious administration by anyone, be it power generating set, pen and others should be returned, noting: “I hereby dissolve all standing committees.”

 In Eleme, the Chairman, Brian Gokpa, after swearing in his members, promised to prioritise security.

He added: “Many people have expressed fears that nobody can control Brian, Brian is not a stupid person; he is a politician who knows that collectively, we can achieve our aim, because I know I cannot do it alone. We will carry our stakeholders and everybody along. So nobody should be scared.

“Fundamentally, we will not play with security and no act of indiscipline. I have been active in the security of Eleme since 2015, so I know the dynamics of security in Eleme.”

While condemning the destruction of some council’s property in the secretariat by hoodlums, Brian dissolved some youth councils and standing committees, stating: “All standing local government committees are hereby dissolved. The revenue director should take charge of all revenues, pending the appointment of committees.”

In Khana, the Chairman, Marvin Yobana, was reported to have promised to run an all-inclusive government where young people, the elderly and women would be empowered.

Yobana charged the caretaker committee members to work together to build the council, noting: “For our members, let us work together as a team, collaborate, put ideas together, even with the leaders of Khana, both at the community and government levels, women and youths to make us succeed.

“This government is one of empowerment. We want to build the capacity of our people and attract businesses to Khana.”

He vowed to implement the governor’s directives to pay the salaries of workers and announced the sack of all former appointees in the area.

“All committees, both standing and whatever remain suspended from today and anybody going on behalf of Khana LG to collect revenue from anybody or on behalf of the council should stop forthwith.

“Immediately, we will ensure that salaries are paid, even the former chairmen and councilors.”

Meanwhile, the national leadership of the PDP has cautioned the former council chairmen against any conduct capable of disrupting the peace in the state.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, in a statement, noting: “The three-year tenure in office of the former Rivers State Local Government Executive Councils has expired by the effluxion of time under the relevant state law establishing the Rivers State Local Government Council Administration.

“The former Rivers State Local Government Council Chairmen should desist from any action that may constitute disruption in local government administration in the state.

“We call on the people of Rivers State to remain calm, law-abiding and continue to work together for the continued stability, peace and delivery of democracy dividends in Rivers State.”