The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area in Rivers State, Otonye Briggs, was suspended by Governor Siminialayi Fubara for allegedly romancing with the camp of the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, it was gathered on Wednesday.Fubara on Tuesday sacked Otonye Briggs with immediate effect and replaced him with Bitebobo Nelson Amieye.The Governor, in a terse statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, directed Otonye to hand over all council property in his possession to Amieye....READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
He was removed few weeks to the October 5 local government elections in the State with the Governor not stating any reason for his actions.But sources said Otonye had a running battle with the Governor’s handlers over alleged disloyalty to them.
One of the sources, who spoke in confidence, said the former CTC chairman was accused of romancing with the camp of Wike.
“They said he was not loyal to them and he was hobnobbing with the camp of their enemy. They also accused him of congratulating party officials elected at the just concluded Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.“The Governor and his political family boycotted all the congresses beginning from the ward to the state level. But Otonye was accused of congratulating the winners,” he said.Besides, another source said Otonye was generally accused of non-performance and inability to account for all the monies he received to empower the people of his LGA.
Prior to his removal, many stakeholders wrote on their social media platforms that Otonye sidelined them and should be relieved of his office.Others claimed that he was the worst CTC chairman accusing him of failing to fulfill his promises for the LGA.But others sang his praises referring to him as a silent achiever claiming that all the allegations of non performance and diversion were untrue.
For instance, one Daerego Benibo, wrote that Briggs was the best gift the Governor gave to the Akuku-Toru local governmentHe said Briggs had brought nothing but the dividends of good governance to the people of the LGA describing him as a silent achieverHe listed some of his achievements as the provision of local government paid electricity: engagement of over 200 casual workers; engagement of over 200 persons in different committees and restoration of peace in the council.
