Legborsi Yamaabana, Chairman of the Rivers State Ethnic Youth Leaders Coalition, has defended the ongoing protests at various council secretariats in Rivers State, demanding that the local government chairmen whose tenure ended yesterday vacate office immediately.
This follows a statewide broadcast by Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara directing Heads of Local Government Administrations to take charge of the 23 local councils in the state.
Twenty-one out of twenty-three council chairmen had vowed to remain in office in compliance with a six-month tenure extension granted by the Martin Amaewhule-led State House of Assembly, despite a recent court ruling which struck down the tenure extension as unconstitutional.
Speaking on Nigeria Info Morning Crossfire, Mr Yamaabana criticised the outgoing chairmen for attempting to resist the governor’s directive, after some began different activities, including purchasing machetes, claiming they were for farming and environmental cleanup of the councils. Mr. Yamaabana vowed that Rivers youths would continue to occupy the councils peacefully until the outgoing chairmen vacate.
Mr Yamaabana also accused the chairmen of being unpatriotic, alleging a widespread 'looting spree' of council properties under the outgoing local government leadership, particularly in Khana Local Government.
See video:
