Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has sworn in the newly elected chairmen of the 23 local government areas of the state.
During the event, the governor said his administration was confronted with a situation where the local government system was heading for doom, and urgent measures had to be taken to salvage the local governments.
The event is coming a day after the Saturday, 5th October council poll.
The Rivers State Independent National Electoral Commission, or RSIEC, declared the chairmanship candidates of the Action Peoples Party winners of the election in 22 out of the 23 local government areas, while the Action Alliance Party won the election in Etche local government area.
Saturday’s council poll had generated a lot of drama, with Governor Fubara’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party and a faction of the All Progressives Congress choosing to boycott the exercise.
The two groups also tried desperately to stop the election from holding and resorted to other ways to achieve their goal.
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The political drama assumed another dimension when the police announced that they were not going to participate or provide security for the election.
The force then went ahead to call on voters to go about their business and not participate in the exercise.
But the election turned out to be a successful one, as it witnessed a large turnout of voters and was devoid of violence even without the presence of the police.
Governor Fubara commended President Bola Tinubu for his support and neutrality in the political drama.
The governor noted that he remains a member of the PDP regardless of what has transpired.
The Rivers State Governor wants the newly sworn-in chairmen to see themselves as servants to the people.
Rounding up his speech, Siminalayi Fubara insists that he will continue to defend the interest of Rivers State, stressing that his primary goal is to build a united, peaceful and prosperous Rivers State.
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
