President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigeria Police Force to safeguard local government secretariats in Rivers State from attacks by arsonists and vandals.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga announced this in a statement on Monday, following incidents where angry hoodlums, dissatisfied with the results of Saturday’s local government elections, set fire to several council secretariats in the oil-rich state.
“In response to recent tensions following last Saturday’s local government council election, the President expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the state,” Onanuga said.
The President called on all political figures to help reduce tensions and urged their supporters to refrain from any violent or destructive behavior.
“President Tinubu directed the police to restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately.
“While instructing law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, he emphasised the need to ensure the security of public institutions.
“President Tinubu said government facilities built with public funds must be safeguarded from vandalism.”
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The President emphasized that self-help is incompatible with a democratic system, particularly after 25 years of uninterrupted democracy.
President Tinubu stated that the judiciary is capable of resolving all political disputes, and the results of this election should be no different. Violent clashes occurred in at least four local government areas, with sections of buildings in Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua council premises being set on fire, while sporadic gunfire was reported in Ahoada East as resistance against the new council officials took place.
The attacks on local government secretariats followed the withdrawal of police officers assigned to secure the 23 councils by the commissioner of police.
Although the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the police chose not to participate in the process that resulted in the election of the new local government chairmen, Governor Siminalayi Fubara maintained that the election would proceed on Saturday.
In a tense atmosphere, the Action People’s Party (APP) secured 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions in the oil-rich state, while the Action Alliance (AA) won one seat.
Fubara inaugurated the 23 newly elected local government chairmen in Rivers State on Sunday, but some of them faced attacks on their first day in office on Monday, with several council secretariats also set ablaze by political adversaries.
