Rivers: New Obio-Akpor LG boss, Ihunwo, assures positive changes

The newly elected chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, has assured residents of positive changes and rapid development in the council.

Obio-Akpor is a prominent local government area in the oil-rich Rivers State, hosting several international oil companies, including Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NOAC), and TotalEnergies.

The council recently faced challenges following a violent invasion by suspected political thugs, which resulted in the looting of properties and valuables. However, calm has since returned, and the council boss and workers have resumed their duties.

Ihunwo pledged to prioritize the welfare of workers, emphasizing that the era of godfathers in Rivers State is over. He declared that a new era has begun where council chairmen will not be influenced by external forces.

Speaking to council workers on Thursday, Ihunwo stated, “The resources of this local government belong to the workers. Nobody will call me for any private meeting in the night. You will witness a lot of changes starting from today. Let me also tell everybody here that I don’t have any godfather. Governor Siminalayi Fubara remains my only leader, and my loyalty is for him and no one else.”

READ ALSO: Rivers govt supports revival of fashion industry

He cautioned workers against arriving late for work, emphasizing that his administration would closely monitor their activities to ensure adherence to rules and standards. Ihunwo said, “This issue of coming to work late, we must advise ourselves that we need to be coming to work early. Don’t say nobody would know if I come or not because we would also be looking at that.”

“You are also aware that the governor was a civil servant before he became the governor, so we won’t abandon the civil servants,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) of the council, Mr. Peterson Wali assured Ihunwo of the workers’ support for his administration and their commitment to duty.