Stay Off Plateau LGs’ Secretariats – IGP Orders Defiant Chairmen
- Gov Mutfuwang remains adamant on suspension
With political tension rising in Plateau State over the suspension of all sitting Local Government Councils’ chairmen, the Inspector General Of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered that all the 17 LGAs’ Secretariats in the state should be shut down immediately.
Spokesperson of Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alabo Alfred, who made the disclosure On Thursday said the Inspector General had directed the State Police Commissioner, Bartholomew Onyeka, to seal off all the Councils’ headquarters to avert any breakdown of law and order in the State.
A statement issued by DSP Alfred in Jos, the Plateau State capital said; “It has become necessary as a result of tensions around the leadership of the Local Government Areas, and the possible threat that supporters and Local Government Chairmen are posing to critical infrastructure, lives, and properties in the State.”
“The decision to take this action is in accordance with the exercise of our constitutional responsibility as the Nigeria Police Force, to ensure that the above doesn’t hold sway on the Plateau.
“To this end, the Nigeria Police Force on the Plateau cannot sit down and watch things go wrong under our watch, hence the need to make this critical decision of sealing up the Local Government secretariats.”
Further warning that those caught flouting the directives would suffer the consequences of being lawless, the statement added; “The command, therefore, warns that it will not take it lightly with anyone who tries to disrupt this process or causes any confusion around the Local Government Secretariats, as we will ensure that the law takes its full course on such persons.”
Reports indicated that the crisis erupted following Governor Caleb Mutfuwang’s suspension of all the Chairmen over allegations of misappropriating public funds.
Coming just about two weeks after his swearing-in, the Governor appointed interim chairpersons to oversee the Councils’ administration, a development that did not go down well the embattled Chairmen as they all revolted, declaring the action as illegal because the governor had no constitutional powers to suspend them from office.
Their insistence of holding on to elective positions as Chief Executives of the respective local councils led to the face-off and heighthened within the State and a near breakdown of law and order on Wednesday.
