Port Harcourt, Rivers state—Nigeria’s media space was awash on Wednesday, May 15, with the mass resignations of some commissioners from the Rivers state’s State Executive Council.
TimesNow.com.ng reports that five commissioners loyal to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, resigned from Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s cabinet on Wednesday, citing various reasons.
However, it was gathered that the mass resignation was connected to the political crisis in the state, which was allegedly ignited by Wike’s move to retain control of the political structure, even after handing over power to Fubara at the end of his tenure in 2023.
According to sources familiar with the development, the commissioners’ mass resignations might be connected with the plan by Governor Fubara to probe Wike’s government.
The sources, who pleaded anonymity, said Fubara’s move to probe his predecessor rattled the former governor’s loyalists, adding that they were left with no choice but to resign from the cabinet.
The sources added that the commissioners resigned to avoid appearing before the Judicial Panel of Enquiry to probe Wike’s government.
Speaking on the development, Preye Samuel, a legal practitioner resident in Rivers state, said Fubara’s move to probe Wike falls within his powers as the executive governor of the state.
In a related development, a top political figure in the state who didn’t want his name mentioned said the resignation of Wike’s allies from Fubara’s cabinet has created excitement among the residents.
He also said the former governor’s allies took to their heels with the recent move by Governor Fubara to probe Wike’s administration.
According to him, there has been massive jubilation in parts of the state over the resignation of the commissioners sympathetic to the former governor. He added that the commissioners resigned to save themselves any form of embarrassment.
Also commenting, a former member of the River states House of Assembly, Sir Jackson Belema, said the resignation of some commissioners in the state could not have come at a better time.
Meanwhile, a top member of the Rivers States Council of Traditional Rulers, who pleaded anonymity, stated that traditional rulers in the state are excited about the commissioners’ resignation.
“We all know they are Wike boys. They attempted to undermine the governor. We are glad they are fleeing in droves because the state will be too hot for them. The people are rejoicing over their resignation. What does that tell you? It tells you that the people are with the governor.”
It was gathered that plans are in top gear from different ethnic groups to undertake a solidarity match to the Rivers State Government House in support of the state governor.
It was gathered that after the resignations were announced, emissaries were sent to the governor, congratulating him and urging him not to relent in the effort to rescue the state from the hands of selfish politicians.
TimesNow.com.ng recalls that President Bola Tinubu earlier intervened in the political crisis in Rivers state through a peace accord, which, from all indications, has broken down.
Meanwhile, TimesNow.com.ng earlier reported that Wike unveiled his strategy amid his feud with his successor, Governor Fubara.
Speaking on Saturday, May 11, in Ogu-Bolo LGA of Rivers at an event to honour George Sekibo, a former senator who has spent 36 years in public service, Wike hinted that he is out to provoke Fubara’s camp into wrong action.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
