Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has suspended Otonye Briggs, Chairman of the Caretaker Committee for Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, with immediate effect.
The announcement was made in a statement on Tuesday by Nelson Chukwudi, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor. While the specific reasons for Briggs’ suspension were not disclosed, the statement confirmed that Hon. Bitebobo Amiee has been appointed to take over as the new chairperson.
Chukwudi added, “Mr. Briggs is directed to hand over all council property in his possession to the new Caretaker Committee Chairperson.”
This suspension comes three months after Governor Fubara inaugurated caretaker committee chairpersons for the state’s 23 local government areas, following the end of the former elected council officials’ three-year tenure.
Tensions arose between supporters of Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, after the former chairmen, backed by Wike, refused to vacate their positions. The resulting clashes led to the deaths of two people, including a police officer.
Since then, police have taken control of the 23 local government secretariats, and Briggs had not been operating from his official office during his three-month tenure due to the ongoing police occupation of the secretariat.