Buhari Orders Police To Vacate Rivers Councils’ Secretariats

PMBThe Police and other security agencies who sealed up all the local government secretariats in Rivers State following a court order sacking the council chairmen elected in the twilight of the Rotimi Amaechi, have been given a vacation ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The police said it sealed up the councils to prevent breakdown of law and order following the possibility of a clash between the caretaker chairmen inaugurated by Governor Nyesom Wike and the sacked chairmen, who vowed to remain in office.
However, following the presidential directive, it was learnt that the police withdrew from the secretariats.
It was learnt that Buhari gave the order for the police to unseal the secretariats to demonstrate his commitment to the Rule of Law and correct the erroneous impression in some quarters, especially by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Senior Special Assistant on Media to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, who disclosed this on Sunday, said Mr. Buhari has made it clear that he won’t stop the execution of a court judgment.
“It is very clear from the view of the President that the judgment on the sack of the local government chairmen in Rivers State must be respected.
“The President made it clear that he cannot stop the judgment unless it is set aside by the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.
“In fact, the President has asked the police and security agencies why they did not enforce the court order. They said they were only at the local government secretariats to secure these public institutions because they had information that there might be backlash.
“So, there was no question of impunity by the President in Rivers State. The attack against the President was unfair by those behind it”, Shehu told a correspondent of The NATION.
In response to a question, the presidential spokesman said: “Actually, the police have withdrawn from the local governments”.