Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday swore-in new sole administrators to take charge of the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State, with a reassurance that his administration would spare nothing to make governance at the grassroots vibrant and responsive.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja during the swearing-in ceremony, said the appointment of sole administrators was another step by his administration to deliver on its promise of a government of inclusion where no one is left behind.
“The hallmark of any good Government is to provide basic services to the communities at the grassroots. This is the only way the real dividends of good governance can spread downwards and touch the hearts and minds of its people,” he said.
The Governor further said: “Our State is growing so fast that the concept of the rural area will not be applicable to any part of Lagos very soon. Our government is working hard to meet the yearnings of our people who live in what I term semi-urban areas by providing them with services like water, good roads, street lights, efficient refuse collection, cleaning of drainage and roads, primary healthcare, recreational parks and sports facilities to make those areas live able and economically viable,” he said.
Governor Ambode also said that the appointment of the Sole Administrators to manage the affairs of the Local Governments and Councils was in line with the recent resolution passed by the House of Assembly which recommended that the previous local government committees be resolved.
He said his administration remains committed to reforms that would make the Local Governments more responsive to the needs of the people, adding that he recently assented to three bills on local government reforms recently passed by the Assembly that would change the face of governance at the third tier of government.
Governor Ambode also charged the newly sworn in Sole Administrators to see their appointment as a call to service of the people, urging them to carry out their responsibilities efficiently.
“You are relay runners on a journey of reform that will ultimately culminate in the election of accountable people that will carry on the baton of good governance for our people. For the duration of your race, I urge you to run the race efficiently with diligence so you do not betray the trust that has been placed in you.
“Your job is to go to the Local Governments you have been posted and make a difference to the lives of the people. You must touch lives and be prepared to have your lives also touched by our people. You must interact with the people, share their joys and pain, and reside among them. It is only through this symbiotic relationship that we can truly say we have begun to understand and serve our people,” he said.
Governor Ambode also said that the State Government would put in place a strict monitoring, control and feedback process to check against excesses and abuse of office, warning that he would not hesitate to replace any Administrator found wanting in conduct and discharge of duties.
Earlier, Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello said the appointment of the Sole Administrators was one of the steps aimed at preparing the Local Government councils for the subsequent elections, and urged the appointees to see the development as an opportunity to engrave their legacies on the sands of time.
Responding on behalf of the appointees, Sole Administrator of Bariga LCDA, Mr. Sanya Osijo thanked Governor Ambode for counting them worthy to be part of the development of the State, assuring that they would go all out to offer good governance at the grassroots.
The Sole Administrators and their designations are Gbenga Abiola (Agege LGA), James Agboola (Orile Agege LCDA), Fehintola Akabo (Ajeromi Ifelodun LG), Femi John (Ifelodun LCDA), Quadri Ganiu (Alimosho LG), Sola Akande (Agbado Oke-Ode LCDA), Abiodun Agbaje (Ayobo Ipaja LCDA), Doyin Salami (Egbe Idimu LCDA), Ibrahim Adigun (Ejigbo LCDA), Samuel Ojo (Igando Ikotun LCDA), Rotimi Ogunwuyi (Mosan Okunola LCDA), Oki Nurudeen Bamidele (Amuwo Odofin LG), Habeeb Aileru (Oriade LCDA), Jide Alao (Apapa LG), Olumide Olayemi (Apapa Iganmu LCDA) Jacob Kent (Badagry LG), Genesis Williams (Badagry West LCDA), Bolaji Adele Solomon (Olorunda LCDA) Olu Ogunniyi (Epe LG), Muyiwa Okesanya (Eredo LCDA), Babatunde Adetunji (Ikosi Ejirin LCDA) and Abiodun Elegushi (Eti-Osa LG).
Others are Ayeni Babatunde (Eti-Osa East LCDA), Goke Ona-Olawale (Ikoyi Obalende LCDA), Aderemi Adebowale (Iru-Victoria Island LCDA), Surakat Adigun (Ibeju-Lekki LG), Shefiu Osinnuga (Lekki LCDA), Label Raji (Ifako Ijaiye LG), Ipaye Adeleke (Ojokoro LCDA), Biodun Taiwo (Ikeja LG), Samson Oloyede (Onigbongbo LCDA), Stella Kokumo (Ojodu LCDA), Ogunleye Gbolahan (Ikorodu LG), Bashorun Bolanle (Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA), Emmanuel Aguda (Ijede LCDA), Shukura Okeowo (Ikorodu North LCDA), Segun Anifowoshe (Ikorodu West LCDA), Olufemi Okedeyi (Imota LCDA), Animawun Adejumoke (Kosefe LG), Ilelaboye Rasaq (Agboyi-Ketu LCDA), Abdul Adewale (Ikosi-Isheri LCDA), Musa Nasir (Lagos Island LG), Are Abiola (Lagos Island East LCDA), Rojaye Olayomi (Lagos Mainland (LG), Adefuye Bayo (Yaba LCDA), Yinka Kazeem (Mushin LG), Adekunle Julius (Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA), Wasiu Sanni (Ojo LG), Isa Jubril (Iba LCDA), Abiola Esrom (Oto-Awori LCDA), Adebayo Taoheed (Oshodi/Isolo LG), Oshikoya Abimbola (Isolo LCDA), William Lawanson (Somolu LG), Sanya Osijo (Bariga LCDA), Sheriff Balogun (Surulere LG), Yussuf Temitope (Coker/Aguda LCDA) and Samiat Raji (Itire-Ikate LCDA).
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has given further explanations on what led to the suspension of four local government chairmen, saying their suspension had nothing to do with the political calculations leading to the 2016 gubernatorial elections in the state.
Speaking Tuesday at the swearing-in of Prince Joe Okojie as a Commissioner in the state Executive Council and Mr. Busari Yesufu as Chairman, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, Oshiomhole said: “today, we have ensured that with all the crisis in Nigeria, when many State Governments are unable to pay salaries, I am proud to say that in Edo we are paying. However, some of these local governments, for some reasons were not able to pay salaries as and when due and we have looked at some of their books, we have received some petitions, it is true that finances are low but even if your finances are low, you also need to cut your wastages.
“We looked at the locally generated revenue, in many cases, these locally generated revenue are never reflected in the books of the local government. It’s just generated and paid directly to some of the local government chairmen. There have been several other abuses and I am proud to say that when the new local government chairmen were sworn in, I made sure all the revenue accruing to local governments before we conducted elections, were left in the treasury of the Local Government so the local governments could use them judiciously to develop their various localities.
“I know for example in Akoko Edo, we had more than N560 million that they inherited because I directed the Heads of Service of the Local Governments not to spend the money of the Local Government. Some inherited N600 million, N400 million accruing from previous years and of course, all the debts which their predecessor incurred, we made sure that all of those were paid. That is how far we have gone, whereas, in some states, the Local Government money comes and the Governor just spends it, in Edo State, we don’t do that and we will never do that and if any future governor wants to do that, I will expect the local government chairmen to react.
“Now if we give you so much free hand, and we help you to save so that you can use the resources to develop your area and in the end you put us in bad news, you are not able to pay salaries and while you are not paying salaries, you are employing your relatives, you are employing all kinds of characters and you are diverting resources to projects that are of no benefits to the people and at the same time, employees of the local government who are working for you for 2, 3, 4, 6 months, you are not paying them and we have evidence that you are still involve in some elements of mismanagement, we can’t continue like that.
“We needed to make a statement that all of us are accountable, that everyone is accountable and that was the reason we took those measures. Government will always be fair but we also have to be firm. We must ensure that Edo State must not join the club of states that over a period look back and they can’t see what difference they have made in the lives of their people.
“We are setting up enquiries to investigate all of these allegations and depending on the finding of the panels, we will know what to do next and I want to assure our people that we respect the autonomy of our local governments, we recognise the rights of an elected official to manage the resources of his governments but we also have a duty to ensure that public funds are not diverted by local governments or by any one for purpose other than what is good for the people of their locality.”
In their response, the newly sworn in Commissioner, Prince Joseph Okogie appreciated the Governor for believing in his abilities and bringing him on board to join in repositioning the state and assured him of his utmost commitment and contribution in ensuring that the task is accomplished.
On his part, the newly sworn-in Etsako West Chairman thanked the Governor for the appointment and promised to do his best to bring development to the people and ensure funds are judiciously managed.
With growing population, increasing local food production capacity has become a major challenge for governments at various levels. One critical level of government, stakeholders feel should address the food security issue, are local government councils. Experts believe local governments can change the game if they create an enabling environment for the local food production food system, DANIEL ESSIET reports.
There have been so much talks about boosting food production across the country.
The reason for this is not far- fetched – any nation that is not able to feed its citizens cannot claim to have security. Aside this, there is need to prune down the huge foreign exchange depleted yearly on food importation, espaecially when Nigeria has vast arable land.
Increasing local food production has become a major challenge for governments at various levels, but experts say grass root planning of food production should be encouraged. They said the 774 local government areas in the country should be encouraged to boost production.
To this end, farming will strive when the elected bodies charged with administrative and executive duties in matters at the local government levels take farming seriously.
Of the 774 local government areas, 700 are based in the rural areas. This implies that a larger percentage of the populace lives in the rural areas and therefore depends solely on agriculture for sustenance. However, experts have expressed concern over the poor state of agriculture within the local government councils.
Observers agree that with the poor attention to agriculture developmentin the local councils, growth in the foreseeable future could be threatened.
Project Director, Cassava Adding to Africa (CAVA), Prof Kola Adebayo, has expressed concern over the absence of strategic plans in the agric sector to ensure that local government chairmen commit efforts and resources towards implementing agric projects and programmes.
He said local councils could help to boost food security if they outline a strategic sector plan for agriculture and implement them.
Like the state governments, he said local government, though inadequately funded, should be able to give a clear picture of where they want agriculture to be in the long term.
For this to happen, he said local government councils need action plans, key performance indicators, service delivery standards, monitoring and evaluation systems and time lines in order to realise the integrated strategic plan.
This will also require them to do things differently—with greater speed and urgency and in partnership with farmers, agribusiness, non-governmental organisation (NGOs), and other government departments.
He lamented that inadequate funding still remains the main impediment to successful implementation of agricultural programmes, adding that it is responsible for lack of delivery and implementation of a wide range of government policies, regulations and programmes undertaken at the local government levels.
If properly funded and given sdirection, Adebayo said a local government council’s agric department level, should be able to provide farming inputs, technical assistance and value addition.
He said the quality and efficiency of services delivered by local government councils’ agric department is important in achieving competitiveness in the sector.
For this reason, he said a new service delivery guideline should be drafted in order to increase the responsiveness and accountability of local government councils’ agric department to farmers’ and agribusinesses’ needs.
He also decried the lack of infrastructure in the rural areas. This, he said has resulted in these areas not being attractive for investment. to address this, he called for measures that will lead to briging the infrastructure gaps, adding that attention should be given to rural towns and agric service centres.
A Consultant to the World Bank, Prof Abel Ogunwale, said local population needs more and better roads to improve their lives and help give a much-needed boost to the farming industry.
He decried the trauma farmers go through when it rains, adding that there were instances trucks get stucked in the mud due to poor rural road network.
Ogunwale said the bad state of the roads across farming communities is a national problem that takes its toll on vehicles conveying produce from the farms.
Deterioration of the roads in the rural areas, he noted, has stood in the way of agricultural production, adding that it has hampered plans to expand food production nationwide. He urged local government councils to resolve roads and transportation problems.
According to him, the agriculture sector, if well harnessed, could be key engine of economic growth. Not only does it put food on the table of Nigerian families at affordable prices and provide raw material for a range of vital purposes, it also supports millions of jobs and is a key economic driver in many rural communities. All measures to increase productivity, he noted, would require increasing yields, diversification to higher value crops, and developing value chains to reduce marketing costs.
He said localisation of food production, processing and consumption was important in the transformation agenda. One area that the local government councils can provide succour is farm land, which is a major barrier to agriculture. Access to land, according to him, remains one of the greatest challenges to new farmers.
A lot of farmers have had to grapple with the challenge of limited land. As a result of this development, there is pressure on farmlands as they are now selling at a market value which is equivalent to land used for residential and industrial uses.
Most people are selling their farms for building and industrial development. The picture paints many challenges for farmers who increasingly believe that local food is integral to the health and wellbeing of residents, and the economic and social vibrancy of their communities but face the challenge of acquiring prime agriculture land for food production.
While people believe that government protect farmlands from development, there is concern that it does little to ensure that the land is actually farmed or accessible to farmers.
According to experts, assisting farmers to access farmlands should be part of a broader strategic response plan which aims to build the resilience of rural livelihoods and local food and nutrition security systems.
While there are efforts to promote agro-industrialisation nationwide, the Provost, Federal College of Agriculture (FECA), Akure, Ondo State, Dr Samson Odedina said much could be achieved if the councils are supported to create community level food chain with efficient infrastructure in place to get food from fields to markets.
This is because a lot of small and medium-size farms who operate outside the industrial system often lack the tools necessary to gather, store, and transport food on a scale larger than a farmers’ market.
He said community-linked food hub will occupy the middle ground between the small scale of a farmers’ market or a community-supported agriculture project and the behemoth of the industrial food system, which pumps massive quantities of processed substances into the pipeline of institutional purchasers.
With dwindling oil earnings, he urged the various tiers of government to take a more comprehensive approach to food system planning and addressing many challenges that agriculture faces.
The provost said the little effort made by the academic institution is helping communities around the school.
For instance, since setting up the point of sale, Odedina said the college has supported the growth of the food and farming zone in the area. Because of the school, he said some areas of the state are home to safe, high-quality and affordable food grown, harvested and made within the communities, for all to enjoy.
The college is working to unleash food entrepreneurs, bringing together researchers, farmers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers so they could improve productivity and spark new ideas along the supply chain from farm to fork, from lab to lunch. This, notwithstanding, he said food enterprise zone are needed there, including artisanal food village to sustain a cluster of local artisan food producers around the area.
Food enterprise zone, according to him, makes it easier for businesses to grow and bring different parts of the food supply chain together, and ensure greater collaboration between rural businesses, kick-start local food economies and help people develop new skills. Recognising this, he said the college has launched a multi-pronged local food strategy to encourage students and agro entrepreneurs to grow foods within the local areas.
This, according to him, is to use the students on graduation to support the establishment of food hubs to drive a rural food revolution.
According to him, a network of food hubs, supported by the college graduates would create jobs nationwide in the food and farming industry, attract investment and add millions to the rural economy.
Notwithstanding, he said a partnership between farmers and local government councils is win-win, because it allows for technical know-how to be deployed to support the investments that the communities so very much need.
On Monday, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria granted an Order of Interim Injunction against the sacking of the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. Will this save the council bosses? Bisi Olaniyi reports
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), then headed by Prof. Augustine Ahiauzu, on May 23, when Rotimi Amaechi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was governor, conducted the local government election in the state.
The election, which had 27 political parties participating, was, however, boycotted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whole leaders claimed did not follow the local government law and due process, but dismissed Ahiauzu.
The Rivers local government election was held in 22 of the 23 LGAs, excluding Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, where the tenure of the chairman and councillors will expire next year. APC won all the 22 chairmanship seats, thereby controlling all the 23 LGAs.
•Wike
A former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, who was Amaechi’s Chief of Staff and ex-Chairman of Obio/Akpor LG council of Rivers state, shortly after the 2015 LG poll, as governor-elect, hinted that he would dissolve the LG councils, shortly after his inauguration.
The members of the Rivers House of Assembly, immediately after their inauguration, invited the RSIEC chairman and the commissioners, as well as the chairman and members of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission (RSJSC) to appear on June 8, which they did.
The Rivers House of Assembly, led by Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani of Andoni constituency, has 31 PDP members and only one lawmaker belonging to the APC.
The Rivers legislators recommended to Wike to dissolve both RSIEC (which conducted the LG election in accordance with the law) and RSJSC, which the governor implemented in the evening of the same June 8, which the Rivers Chairman of the APC, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said was meant to witch-hunt Amaechi and his teeming supporters.
The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers chapter, Chimbiko Iche Akarolo, of Port Harcourt City LG council, declared that Wike had no powers to dissolve the councils, while urging him to go to court, if he was not comfortable with the election.
On June 11, the LG chairmen got wind of the plan by the Rivers lawmakers to recommend to Wike to dissolve the councils and decided to stage a peaceful protest round Port Harcourt, which was terminated at the state’s House of Assembly, with the chairmen vowing to resist the planned unconstitutional dissolution.
The council chairmen and their protesting supporters remained undaunted, in spite of the teargas by the police, who prevented them from accessing the Rivers House of Assembly complex.
Prior to the massive protest, the council chairmen had earlier addressed a news conference at the Port Harcourt LGA (PHALGA) House on William Jumbo Street and declared that if Wike decided to return to self help, they would also opt for it, saying illegality would beget illegality.
They accused Wike of having a sinister plot to plunge Rivers state into another round of avoidable crisis, insisting that they would defend the renascent democracy, warning of dire consequences of dissolving the LG councils.
The displeased LG chairmen stated that the new Rivers governor wanted to turn the state into his personal estate, stressing that Rivers people want bread not bullets, declaring that if it meant dying to defend democracy, they would not mind losing their lives in fighting a just cause and added that Wike was not prepared for governance.
The protesters, armed with placards bearing various inscriptions and chanting anti-Wike songs, shut down Port Harcourt, thereby affecting commercial activities and traffic, with motorists hurriedly making detour, to avoid any incident.
The Commander of the Swift Operation Squad (SOS) in Rivers, Romokere Ibani, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), who led the policemen to stop the protesters in front of the state’s House of Assembly, said there was the need to give peace a chance.
ACP Ibani, a Rivers indigene, said: “We will convey your message to the appropriate quarters. Rivers State belongs to all of us. We should not resort to self help. Politics will come and go. Let us not destroy our place.
“I am pleading for relative peace in Rivers State. It is only when there is peace that we can have development. In the interest of peace, let us go back. We must reason together.”
Some of the placards carried by the chairmen read: “Wike is inviting anarchy to Rivers State, Federal Government must call him to order”, “We cannot be intimidated to abandon out God/people-given mandates. The 23 LGAs’ Chairmen have come to stay for good” “Wike wants to destroy our local councils”, “No to dissolution” “NJC is in Wike’s pocket” “Rivers State is falling fast under Wike” and “Our mandate is sacrosanct.”
Others were: “We shall resist you with every legal means at our disposal. We say no to councils’ dissolution”, “Your election is not more credible than ours. Leave LGAs’ chairmen alone”, “Rivers people want peace, not dissolution”, “Members of Rivers State House of Assembly should concentrate on serving Rivers people, instead of witch-hunting LG chairmen”, “Wike should remember 2014 Supreme Court judgment on tenure of LGAs’ chairmen” and “Dissolution of LGAs is detrimental.”
Inscriptions on placards also included: “Darkness has taken over Rivers State again, FG send help to us now”, “Every action has a reaction, Wike”, “Respect the third tier of government”, “Wike wants to destroy our local councils”, “Rule of law is the beauty of democracy”, “PDP/Wike, leave elected LG chairmen alone”, “Wike is embodiment of thuggery, impunity and everything that is evil, President Buhari, save us.”
The Legal Adviser of ALGON in Rivers State, Sogbeye Eli, of Degema (Kalabari) LG council, who read the speech at the news conference, while responding to reporters’ questions, said: “We have a matter in court. If Wike’s government is a responsible government, the government should wait for the legal process to go through. If the government does not wait for the decision of the court and resorts to self-help, we will resort to self-help. Illegality will beget illegality.
“Wike’s government also has questions over the April 11, 2015 election, before the Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja. If the National Assembly has not been used by anybody to dissolve the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or send its Rivers REC (Resident Electoral Commissioner), Gesila Khan, to jail, we wonder why the hurry and the interest in Rivers State.
“If they (Wike and his allies) subvert the law and the due process of the law, and do anything outside of what the law allows, we will resist it. If that means we are going to die, let us die. The most important thing is that we are going to enforce a regime of resistance.
“Maybe this may be the point local government autonomy will be finally defined. First, let us define Rivers State as no man’s property. If you have a grouse, go to court. People should allow the rule of law to prevail, not the rule of man. Rivers State needs peace. The people want bread not bullets. If you cannot protect lives and property, why are you in government?”
ALGON in Rivers State, in the news conference’s speech, titled: “We Must Defend our Democracy,” declared that danger was looming in the horizon for the prized democracy.
The LG chairmen stated that there was a sinister plot by Wike’s government to plunge Rivers into another round of avoidable crises, after the most mindless bloodletting the state had ever known in its 48-year history, in the name of struggle to wrest transient political power.
On June 18, the Rivers ALGON members called for the immediate dismissal of Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court (FHC), Port Harcourt for allegedly taking sides with the PDP and Wike on the plan to dissolve the councils. He was accused of bribery in a case in his court.
The LG chairmen also accused the FHC judge of judicial rascality and impertinence, gross violation of the Nigerian constitution, perpetration of corruption and impunity, thereby sending petition against him to the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the allegations and dismiss him.
They stated that Justice Akanbi of the FHC One abused court proceedings in the pre-election matter that had gone to the appellate court, which he adjourned sine die (indefinitely) on April 29, 2015, while the appeal court adjourned till October 12, 2015.
The Forum of Concerned Lawyers in Rivers State, through its Chairman, Chris Itamunola, in Port Harcourt, however, called for the arrest of the 23 LG chairmen, while expressing surprise that they could so unjustly accuse Justice Akanbi of taking bribe to see the councils dissolved.
The concerned lawyers said: “The allegation by the Rivers LG chairmen that Justice Lambo Akanbi financially compromised regarding the case that is subsisting in the FHC, is not only serious, but a very contemptuous issue and the option open to the judge is to immediately round them up, get them arrested and send the case to an independent court for trial. Since a judge cannot be a judge in his own court.
“You do not come to the public domain to make such wild and spurious allegations. When this same class of politicians got very favourable judgments before the honourable court and the same Justice Lambo Akanbi, sometime in 2014, regarding the chief judge’s matter and some other ones, there was no wild allegation whatsoever. The music cannot be different in times like this.”
The PDP filed the suit at the FHC, Port Harcourt against holding the LG election on May 23 this year and for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to release the voter registers to the RSIEC. INEC, RSIEC, Governor of Rivers State, Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Service were defendants in the suit.
The then governor of Rivers state (Amaechi) and RSIEC appealed against the order of Justice Akanbi to show cause why the motion filed by the PDP should not be granted.
The LG chairmen noted that Justice Akanbi no longer had jurisdiction to entertain any further proceeding in the case, making him to adjourn sine die, to enable the Court of Appeal to decide the matter.
The Rivers solicitor-general, however, condemned the allegations levelled against him and Justice Akanbi by the LG bosses.
Godwin, in his reaction in Port Harcourt, insisted that he was at the FHC on June 16 to represent the present Rivers government and RSIEC in the matter filed by the PDP against the conduct of the May 23 LG election.
The solicitor-general reiterated that the case was initially adjourned sine die by the court, but resumed to regularise the development on the matter, following a change of government.
Godwin said: “With the new government, common sense should have indicated that it would be unfair to continue with the counsel, who was pursuing a different interest from the interest of the present government. So, the proper thing to do and at a time when there was no Attorney-General, was to debrief him, so that when the matter comes up, we will take over the matter.
“That was why we wrote to Nwofor on June 2 and we also gave a copy to the court, Nwofor knows that ethically, if we have written to him, to say you are no longer the counsel in the matter, you cannot insist that you must continue with the matter as counsel.”
On Monday, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria presided over by Hon. Justice J.T. Agbadu-Fishim, holden at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State granted an Order of Interim Injunction against the governor of Rivers State, the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Attorney-General of Rivers State and their agents from dissolving, suspending, sacking terminating or in any manner whatsoever interfering with the tenure of office of the 23 Local Government Councils of Rivers State.
The order will remain in force until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for Interlocutory Injunction.
Will Wike respect this order or find a way around it? Time will tell.
