Tension In As Governor, Commissioner Of Police Fight Over Unsealing Of LG Secretariat
A potential conflict between the Plateau government and the state’s Commissioner of Police, Julius Alawari, appears to be looming.
The issue centers around the authority to order the reopening of 17 local government secretariats, which were closed after the suspension of their chairmen.
Alawari issued a directive for the secretariats to be unsealed, allowing the suspended chairmen to resume their duties. However, this move was made without consulting the state government.
During a press briefing following an emergency security council meeting held at the Government House in Jos, the Attorney General of the state, Philimon Daffi, criticized the Commissioner of Police’s decision.
The meeting, chaired by the state’s deputy governor, Josephine Piyo, was convened to discuss these developments.
Recalling the events, it’s important to note that on June 1, Governor Mutfwang suspended all democratic structures in the state’s 17 local government areas. Transition Committee Chairmen were appointed to oversee the activities of the local governments due to allegations of financial mismanagement by the suspended chairmen.
In contrast to this suspension, the Commissioner of Police unsealed the secretariats of the local government areas and instructed workers to resume their duties. However, this directive excluded all political office holders until the outcome of their ongoing legal proceedings.
