RIVERS: Fubara suspends LGA caretaker committee chairman, Otonye Briggs

This announcement was made in a statement today by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi.

The statement indicated that Briggs’ suspension is effective immediately, although no specific reasons were provided for the decision.

“The Governor has appointed Hon. Bitebobo Amiee to take over as chairperson right away, but the reasons for this decision were not disclosed,” Chukwudi stated.

Briggs has been instructed to hand over all council properties in his possession to the new Caretaker Committee Chairperson.

This suspension comes just three months after Fubara inaugurated the chairpersons of the caretaker committees for the 23 local government areas in the state, following the expiration of the previous elected officials’ three-year tenure.

The transition sparked violence in the state between supporters of Governor Fubara and those loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the FCT Minister.

The former local government chairpersons, supported by Wike, resisted leaving office, leading to clashes with Fubara’s supporters that resulted in the deaths of two individuals, including a police officer.

In response to the unrest, the Police Force directed its personnel to take control of the 23 council secretariats.

During his three months in office, Briggs was unable to function from his official office as the secretariat remains occupied by police forces.