Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has informed the newly appointed caretaker committee chairmen that they are free to work from any location.

The governor’s statement follows complaints from some chairmen about being blocked by police from entering their council offices.

Governor Fubara made this announcement after inaugurating the 23 caretaker chairmen at the government house in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, June 19.

He advised the chairmen not to engage in conflicts with the security personnel who are currently stationed at the council offices, as he wants to avoid violence.

He said,

“Let me also advise that as you resume in your respective local governments, please I do not want any confrontation, it is not in my nature. It is not my style. Whatever happened yesterday (Tuesday) I know and the world knows that it is not from you people.

Some persons caused it. So let us not allow them to continue to make our state look bad in the comity of states. So if you go back, if there is any situation I want you to be law abiding. I don’t want any confrontation. You can operate from anywhere,”

He emphasized that the key point is that the caretaker chairmen are now in control of the Local Government Areas.

Governor Fubara mentioned that the caretaker committee’s term will be brief, as the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) will soon start preparations for local government elections.

The state police command had earlier declared on Tuesday that they had taken control of all local government council headquarters to prevent further violence and maintain order.

This action followed a deadly clash on Tuesday, June 18, in the Omuma Local Government Area between supporters of Governor Fubara and those of his predecessor, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, resulting in the deaths of a policeman and a local security member.