Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara has reminded the executive chairmen of local government areas in the state that they have a few days to vacate their offices.
This was as the governor equally restated his commitment to peace in the state saying he did not want trouble in Rivers and that the council chairmen should consider life after office.
The governor’s statement came amid threats by the local government chairmen that they would not vacate office on July 17 because the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly extended their tenure to six months in an amended law.
The governor implored them to shun violence, warning that they would not be forgiven if they relied on their “useless” support to hurt anybody in the state.
The governor regretted that after the state’s event on Tuesday, miscreants attacked some persons, who attended the inauguration of the Aleto-Ogale-Ebubu-Eteo Road project, on their way home, and described such actions as utterly needless.
Fubara gave the warning to the Egbeda community during the official kick-off of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road project in the Emohua Local Government Area on Thursday.
He said: “Let me also say this here. When we left Aleto the other day, some people went there and attacked our people. There is no need for that.
“Nobody has the monopoly of violence. I should even be the one who should come out and shout that I will do this and that. But I don’t need to do that because both sides belong to me. I have taken an oath to protect all.
“So, I am advising those people who call themselves local government chairmen: you have a few days in office. Please, conduct yourselves in a peaceful manner.”
Fubara drew their attention to the reality of the life after office, saying it should help them to exercise caution.
He said: “Politics will come, politics will go, but we will still live our lives. Let nobody deceive you, if you deliberately hurt anybody, because of expressing your useless support, nobody will forgive you. You will pay for it.
“So, I’m begging everyone, please, conduct yourselves. As a matter of fact, I am the one who is most hit and abused as a Governor who doesn’t know what to do with power. Is it not? Have I said anything?
“So, please, just endure until when you finish, then you go your way. I don’t want trouble. I don’t want anything that will bring any problems in this State. I know what they want to do, but we will not give them the opportunity.
The governor added: “We have made our promise to our leader, who happens to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that we will take the path of peace and that is the part we are taking.
“We will continue to take that path. Don’t mind what they say. Don’t mind what they do. Peace remains the path to take. While taking the path of that peace, it does not mean that we won’t defend ourselves, or let me describe it this way: we will not just be like a tree seeing someone coming to cut it down, and won’t do anything. No, no no. We need to also protect ourselves in a lawful manner.”