Amidst the ongoing political feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, another battleground has emerged in Rivers State.

The recent resignation of four Commissioners from Fubara’s cabinet underscores the deepening rift and the unachievable quest for peace in the polity, especially between the governor and Wike who is now the Minister of the Federal Territory (FCT), Abuja.

In a significant turn of events, the four commissioners tendered their resignations from the State Executive Council.
Among them are George Kelly, Commissioner for Works, and Henry Ogiri, Commissioner of Power, who resigned due to their appointments by the Federal Government.

Their appointments to serve at the federal level were believed to have been influenced by the FCT Minister.

Additionally, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adango, and the Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu, penultimate Wednesday, resigned from the governor’s cabinet following their redeployment to other ministries.
All of the four commissioners had earlier resigned their positions in a show of loyalty to their mentor, Wike, in the face of the political crisis in the state.

President Ahmed Bola Tinubu had, in the wake of the political war in Rivers, waded in and resolved the development.
But it appeared that after the presidential intervention, the political gladiators involved were still head bent on getting their ‘Shylock’s’ pound of flesh.

Fubara, in a circular signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, reassigned Adango to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s Office) and directed Kamalu to the Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment.

However, both Adango and Kamalu rejected their redeployment, citing the ongoing lack of peace in the state.

Tale of resignation, discontent

The resignation of Kelly and Ogiri were not made public, but it was gathered that the duo left office sometime in January 2024 and November, 2023.

But, Adango, in his resignation letter, expressed his refusal to serve under Fubara, highlighting interference with his duties and a lack of consultation regarding his redeployment.

The former Commissioner’s previous resignation during the standoff between Fubara and Wike, which was later reversed, underscores the underlying tensions within the administration.

Similarly, Kamalu emphasized the absence of peace despite efforts to reconcile differences.
He criticized Fubara’s administration for its handling of state revenue claims and lamented the challenging environment for governance in the face of discord.

Adango, in his resignation letter titled, ‘Cabinet Reshufflement: Notice of Rejection of Deployment and Resignation from Rivers State Executive Council’, noted that he was not consulted before his deployment.

It read: “My attention has been drawn to your letter dated 23rd April, 2024 and widely circulated on social media whereby I was “deployed to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s Office).

“Further to the referenced letter, I hereby give you notice of my rejection of the said deployment and resignation from the Rivers State Executive Council with effect from 24th day of April, 2024.

“I wish to state for the record, that I am no longer willing to continue to serve in the administration of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, in any capacity whatsoever.

“It is important to mention that the Governor of Rivers State had in the past couple of weeks willfully interfered with the performance of my duties as the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Rivers State by directing me not to defend, oppose, or appear in suits instituted against the Honourable Attorney-General and the Government of Rivers State by persons admittedly hired and sponsored by the Government of Rivers State.

“Having served the Government and good people of Rivers State dutifully as member of the Rivers State Executive Council for the past five (5) years, it has become imperative for me to quit the administration to preserve my reputation.”

Peace has remained out of reach – Kamalu

On his part, Kamalu tendered his resignation from the cabinet, noting that the peace instituted by Tinubu was not yet in sight.

He faulted the governor for his position on the improvement of the revenue of the state from N12 billion to N27 billion, adding that the claim was erroneous.

The former Commissioner wrote: “Your Excellency would recall that I served under the Administration of His Excellency, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, GSSRS, POS (now Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja) originally as Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning (2015-2019) and subsequently as Commissioner for Finance-with oversight responsibility for the Rivers State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (2019 – 2023).

“The mandates of the respective Ministries were to the best of our abilities (as Ministries) duly carried out and at all times material relevant reforms were embarked upon for improved performance and effective and sustainable service delivery.

“Among several others, we successfully carried out the following: Initiating and (supporting existing) policy frameworks for enhanced internal revenue generation. This with (necessary adjustments made on some of the programs) led to an Increase in the Internal revenue receipts. This steady rise has been on for some years now culminating in what the state is presently generating though not the figures erroneously claimed in the Media.

“You will respectfully recall that when the climate of discord became unbearable I and other like-minded Members of the Executive Council that were appointed by you resigned. You thereafter engaged His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as Father of the Nation to intervene in the matter.

“In deference to the directive of Mr. President I and the others were recalled and we all accepted and joined the Cabinet again. I expected Sir that with the opportunity provided by Mr. President, every effort will be made to sustain peace.
“Regrettably, Your Excellency, the peace in Government and governance that we all – citizens and residents-of the State desire has remained out of reach despite our consistent efforts and demand for same. This has affected our ability to protect and defend the gains that we made these past years.

“In the course of official engagements, I have reiterated on the need for this peace and the fact we all are willing and determined to work for this. It is very difficult to deliver good governance where there is acrimony and discord. It is not the point of service that is important, but the climate. Our present circumstance makes service delivery extremely challenging. I still hold the belief that it is never too late for peace.”

Vanguard