Emmanuel Masha 
As security operatives continue to man the entrances of the Local Government Secretariats in Rivers State, the Caretaker Committee Chairmen appointed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to run the affairs of the state’s 23 Local Government Areas assumed office, dissolving all standing committees in their respective councils.
They also dissolved their task forces that operated during the tenure of former chairmen while preparing grounds to set up new ones.
Recall that youths loyal to Fubara had besieged most of the councils in the state because of the insistence of former council chairmen to stay for extra six months after their tenure officially expired on June 17th.
The new CTC Chairmen, who have the backing of the governor to work outside the council secretariats until the security situation at the council improves, have also pledged to offset unpaid salaries of council staff.
The CTC chairman of Eleme LGA, Brain Gokpa, pledged to improve the security of the council area based on his past involvement in security issues within the area, just as he announced he declared dissolved someone youth councils and standing committees.
Gokpa, who also swore-in the members of Eleme CTC warned against indiscipline and condemned the destruction of property in the council secretariat by hoodlums,
He said: “Many people have expressed fears that nobody can control Brain (himself), Brain is not a stupid person, he is a politician who knows that collectively we can achieve our aim because I know I cannot do it alone. We will carry our stakeholders and everybody along. So nobody should be scared.
“Fundamentally we will not play with security and no act of indiscipline. I have been active in the security of Eleme since 2015 so I know the dynamics of security in Eleme.”
In Ogu/Bolo the CTC Chairman Hon. Evans Bipi, promised to work against hunger and poverty and to also provide grants for small and medium-scale enterprises to boost the household economy in the area.
Bipi, a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, also pledged to pay serious attention on human capital development, economic empowerment, and employment generation to boost boost the people’s quality of life.
He stated, “There will be human capital development, we will support women and mena doing business because infrastructure without food in your stomach is zero.”
Bipi also appealed to his predecessor and his team to return all government property in their possession.
“All council properties in the custody of the precious administration by anyone, be it power generating set, pen, and others should be returned because I will pursue you to the latter. I hereby dissolve all standing committees. If you are able standing committee, you stand dissolved,” he said.
In Khana LGA, Marvin Yorbana, the CTC chairman promised to run an all-inclusive government and empower the people, promising to pay the salaries of workers.
He also announced the dissolution of all former appointees in the area, and called on the new CTC members to join hand’s with him to be successful in the task to lead the people of Khana.
He said: “All committees, both standing and whatever remain suspended from today, and anybody going on behalf of Khana LG to collect revenue from anybody or on behalf of the council should stop forthwith. Immediately we will ensure that salaries are paid, even the outgone LG chairmen and councilors.”
