Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed to ensure that peace prevails in the state while protecting his supporters, who he said stand for truth.
Fubara made this pledge while addressing newsmen shortly after a State Security Council meeting with heads of security agencies at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
The governor emphasized that any attempts to arrest his supporters on trumped-up charges would not be tolerated.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara reiterated that the law is clear on tenure extension for elected local government chairmen.
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 has 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.”
He further said, “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.”
Fubara explained that the State Security Council meeting was convened due to rising tensions following the expiration of local government chairmen’s tenures.
“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.”
He thanked the people for their support, and urged everyone to continue to remain law-abiding for the unity and progress of the state.
