Following developments in Rivers State in the past 48 hours, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, on Tuesday, summoned an emergency state security council meeting, which was attended by heads of all the security agencies in the state.
Addressing journalists after the meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Fubara assured that he will fearlessly lead the way to ensure that peace continued to prevail in the state while also protecting all patriotic supporters for their stand on the path of truth.
The governor emphasised that no grand plan to arrest such patriotic supporters on trumped-up charges will be tolerated.
He stated that there was no extension of tenure for elected local government council chairmen, adding that the law is unambiguous on the matter, clarifying that the court has also affirmed the position of the law.
Fubara said: “Let me also say this: I’m also aware that there is a grand plan to come and arrest some of our supporters. This time around, you have to pass through me to arrest them because I don’t think there is anything that any of those people following us have done. Rather, they are standing on the side of truth.
“If it will cost us our lives to stand on the part of truth, we will do that. And I will be the one that will lead the course.
“Let me assure everyone, more especially, the great and peace- loving people of Rivers State: the law is the law. The law has said that there is no extension of tenure.
“The court said so, and whoever that is assuring anybody anywhere of whatever, I advise them to desist from it because peace is what we need in this State.
“I assure everyone of you that whatever it takes to make sure that we maintain peace and order, we are not going back on that.”
The governor explained that the security council meeting was called because of the recent threat to the peace of the state by the outgone chairmen of the local government councils.
He said: “You are all aware that the tenure of the council chairmen ended yesterday, 17th June, 2024, and today, we have ordered the Heads of Local Government Administration to be in charge while they await further directives.
“It’s really unfortunate that we started hearing some disturbing news from some LGAs of invasion of council secretariats, and it is really unfortunate. So, we have called the Security Council meeting so that the needful will be done.
“We are also aware that our enemy is also planning a lot of things. But we will not fall into that plot. We will not also allow him or them to destroy the peace that we are enjoying in the State.”
Fubara thanked the media and the peace-loving people of the State for their support, and urged everyone to continue to remain law-abiding for the unity and progress of Rivers State.