The IYC chairman of Kalabari Se-ikpangi, Edward Asikitams has urged the newly appointed LG caretaker committees to step aside until the court gives verdict on issues surrounding local government tenure elongation.

You recall that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the state appointed caretaker committee members to take over local government administration, following the June 17 date that expired the tenure of the immediate past LG chairmen.

Asikitams insisted that the pro-Nyesom Wike state lawmakers amended the local government law and extended the tenure of LG chairmen, adding that until the court rules otherwise, the appointment of caretaker committees by Governor Fubara is illegal.

As of the time of filing this report, the police were still occupying the LG secretariat complexes of the 23 LGAs to avert perceived attacks on the council secretariats by political hoodlums.

He said: “The Rivers State House of Assembly has amended the local government laws, extending the tenures of the local government executive chairmen and the legal disputes surrounding it are still in court.

“For me, there is no need for anybody to take laws into his hands. All interested parties should step aside and wait for the judgment of the court.

“Don’t forget that nobody has the monopoly on violence. If you say you are very strong and that you want to usurp the duties of the judiciary, other people can also mobilize and resist such attempts that they are using to truncate governance.

“Everybody should step aside and allow the court to give a final verdict on this matter.”