ACN Calls For Arrest of Past Rivers Council Chairmen

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Rivers State has called for the arrest of the immediate past local council chairmen in the state for allegedly looting of council coffers during the tenure of the chairmen.

The ACN said most of the past chairmen left empty treasury after they were relieved of their positions by the state government and directed to hand over council property in their possession to the Heads of Personnel Management (HPMs) of the various councils, in preparation for council polls in the state on May 21, 2011.

Acting Publicity Secretary of the party, Jerry Needam stated that councils most affected are Emohua, Tai, Port Harcourt City, Eleme, Obio/Akpor, Oyigbo, Abua/Odual, Okrika, Ikwerre, Ahoada West, Opobo/Nkoro and Ahoada East, where monumental looting took place.

He stated that only the arrest and prosecution of the council chairmen will serve as deterrent to others who might want to carry out the obnoxious practice of the ex-council bosses.

Needam regretted that most of the affected chairmen have picked up their party tickets to return to the councils, and wondered what fate would befall the councils, given the development.

He called on the Rivers electorate to shun these self-serving council chairmen at the polls and vote for the ACN candidates who promise transparency, accountability and prudential management of resources and funds accruing to local councils.
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt