Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has suspended Otonye Briggs, Chairman of the Caretaker Committee for Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, effective immediately.
The announcement was made on Tuesday in a statement by Nelson Chukwudi, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary. While the reasons for Briggs’ suspension were not disclosed, the statement confirmed that Hon. Bitebobo Amiee has been appointed as the new chairperson.
Chukwudi added, “Mr. Briggs is directed to hand over all council properties in his possession to the new Caretaker Committee Chairperson.”
This suspension comes three months after Governor Fubara appointed caretaker committee chairpersons for the state’s 23 local government areas, following the end of the former elected officials’ three-year terms.
Tensions had flared between supporters of Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, after the outgoing chairpersons, who were backed by Wike, refused to leave office. Clashes that followed resulted in the deaths of two people, including a police officer.
Since then, police have taken control of the 23 local government secretariats, and Briggs had not been working from his official office during his three-month tenure due to the continued police presence.