The Coalition of Rivers State Professionals has alleged that youths are being paid to stage protests as part of efforts to instigate violence amidst the ongoing local government council chairmen tenure elongation crisis in the State.

The Director General of the group, Architect Ipalibo West, made this allegation while speaking at a press conference at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Port Harcourt yesterday.

West said, “I want to tell you that the crowds you see on the streets today in Port Harcourt are hired crowds. They are not youths that are interested in the development of this State.

“No right thinking person or no right thinking youth of their State will at this moment, in the political life of Rivers State, come out to the streets in an administration of a man that has set the pace in good governance in this country.

Speaking further, the coalition DG alleged, “What is happening on the streets of Port Harcourt today is like playing the ostrich game. Politicians who are not interested in the development of this state are somewhere sponsoring anarchy.

“What they are trying to do in Rivers State is to push the people to react, so that a State of Emergency can be declared in Rivers State and I tell you, take it to the bank, we have not got near any level of declaring a State of Emergency in Rivers State, and by the grace of God, it will never happen in Rivers State.”

He, however, supported the presence of the Police at the local government headquarters, saying it is in the interest of the State.

“For the Police taking over the councils, I think it is in the interest of Rivers State, because you can see that if not for the fact that these policemen or security agencies are occupying the local government councils, you’ll wonder how it would have been with these youths that have been paid money to enter the streets to demonstrate against a very peaceful government, very development oriented government.”

The coalition described the institution of the Caretaker Committees in the 23 local governments in the State by the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, as appropriate, saying there’s no room for vacancy in governance.

The group’s DG also dissociated the coalition from any attempt to undermine civil governance in the State, as he pledged the body’s unwavering support for Governor Fubara.

“It is, indeed, very necessary that the Coalition for Rivers State Professionals, a body made up of members of various professional groups and networks in Rivers State drawn from diverse endeavours in the private, public and government sectors, expressly declare our total and unalloyed commitment to good governance in our dear State and show solidarity to the Executive Governor or Rivers State, H. E Sir Siminalayi Fubara as he marks his first year in office,” the group said.

The Tide reports that Governor Fubara, last week, appointed caretaker committee chairmen to run the affairs of the 23 local government councils in the State following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the former local government chairmen.

The former chairmen who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, are however, demanding for tenure elongation for six months, a demand that has drawn the rage of many Rivers stakeholders.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana