Fubara Suspends Local Govt Caretaker Committee Chairman In Rivers State

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has suspended the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Otonye Briggs, with immediate effect. The announcement was made on Tuesday, September 17, in a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi.

Though the specific reasons for the suspension were not disclosed, the statement directed Briggs to hand over all council property in his possession to Hon. Bitebobo Amiee, who will assume the role of chairperson immediately.

Briggs had been one of the caretaker chairmen recently appointed by Governor Fubara to oversee the 23 local government areas after the expiration of the tenure of the previous elected officials.

In a separate political development, leaders from the Ogoni and Oyigbo zones gathered on Saturday in Tai Local Government Area to advocate for an Ogoni/Oyigbo candidate to take the governorship seat in the 2027 elections.

The event, termed the “Ogoni, Oyigbo People’s Assembly,” saw key figures like Senator Barinada Mpigi, Senator Magnus Abe, and Ambassador Desmond Akawor in attendance.

Senator Mpigi, speaking on behalf of the group, emphasized their demand for the governorship position in 2027 while urging for unity among Ogoni and Oyigbo communities. The group also criticized the current administration of Governor Fubara and called on political parties to support their demand for a candidate from the Ogoni/Oyigbo regions.