Nigeria: The indigenous members of the Kalabari Community have taken over the Asari Toru Local Government Area Secretariat. A group of people from the various communities and neighbourhoods within the LGA have blocked the entrance to the secretariat.
The people expressed that they are unhappy and dissatisfied with the working of the local government council. The youngsters have asserted that the tenure of the Local Government Area Chairman, Onegiyeofori George has expired.
The youngsters demanded that the chairman vacate the office immediately. They claimed that the members of the community have taken over the building as this is a public, government property and belongs to them.
The spokespersons have asserted that they do not want to instigate any kind of violence within the community. Several youngsters have convened at the Asari Toru Secretariat Building to block the executive chairman and his team from entering.
They have registered their disappointment with the administration of the local government area through staged protest. They have gathered outside the Local Government Area to inform the executive chairman and his cabinet that their tenure has lapsed.
According to the members of the community, Onegiyeofori George and his team do not have anything to do at the secretariat. The community has taken over the building, claiming that they had elected the Executive Chairman and now his tenure has lapsed.
The members of the community have shared that Onegiyeofori George and his team had threatened that they would not leave the council. They also claimed that “no one can push them out” of the building.
The members of the various communities have come to the secretariat in response to these threats. They claimed that they are not threatening violence. The community only wants to make sure that Onegiyeofori George and his team can not continue to impose on the people of Asari Toru Local Government.
The members of the community have also reflected on the reaction of the Governor of Rivers State. The spokespersons noted that they believe the Governor to be peaceful. He is a governor for the masses, claimed the spokesperson.
He hoped that the Governor would understand that the people in the grassroots are not happy.