Samuel Nwanosike, the chairman of Ikwerre local government area of Rivers State has vowed to remain in office after the expiration of his tenure.
Mr Nwanosike stated this while addressing his constituents at a public gathering, a trending video clip showed.
He is relying on a legislation passed by the polarised Rivers State House of Assembly which has now been voided by the court, after the Martin Amaewhule-led faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, federal capital territory minister, vetoed the governor to enact, giving themselves powers to extend the tenures of the local government chairmen if the governor fails to conduct council elections.
Mr Wike, the benefactor of the council chairman, is at loggerheads with his successor Governor Similanayi Fubara, a rift that has repulsed presidential intervention.
“If Martin Amaewhule says that because the governor of Rivers State failed in his duty to conduct Local Government elections, and that I, Dr Nwanosike Samuel Osoruchi, by the oath of office I took and the certificate of return I was issued when I contested my second tenure election, that we should remain in office, so shall we remain in office,” Mr Nwanosike said.
“If dem born you well, show your face let me see,” the outgoing council head threatened.
His remark comes weeks after Governor Similanayi Fubara warned local government chairmen whose tenures are expiring next month to quietly vacate office rather than foment trouble.
“…I am advising those people who call themselves local government chairmen, you have a few days in office, please conduct yourselves. Politic will come, politics will go – we will still live our lives,” the governor cautioned.
“Let anyone not deceive you, if you deliberately hurt anybody in the cause of expressing your useless support, nobody will forgive you, you will pay for it. So, I’m begging everyone, please conduct yourselves,” he added.
