Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has advised the newly appointed Chief of Staff and commissioners not to use their new positions to pursue antagonize perceived political opponents.
He stated that all competing challenges have been submitted to God, with the expectation that He would continue to intervene in ways that will shock the world.
Fubara made this statement immediately after swearing in the Chief of Staff, Government House, and five Special Advisers at the Executive Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Boniface Onyedi, the governor’s Media Aide, made the announcement in a statement.
Ehie Edision was sworn in as Chief of Staff at Government House, with Dr Darlington Orji, Solomon Eke, Aminayanasam Fiberesima, Deeyah Bariene, and Ohia Prince serving as Special Advisers.
Fubara stated that the goal of government was to provide services even in the face of obstacles, and their appointment demonstrates that concrete machinery is being put in place to help overcome those problems.
The governor challenged them to view their appointment as a call to duty, to rise to the challenge of bringing value to governance, and to demonstrate that they are truly credible men of the state.
He said,
“Let me add, don’t use this position to antagonise anybody, even in your localities. I want to speak to you and I will continue to say it, what God cannot do does not exist.
“That you succeeded in battle is not because of your power. It is the grace of God. When God says it will not happen again, whoever you are, it ceases from that moment. I am not appointing you today because I want you to go to your areas and start fighting, no.
“We have surrendered our situation to God and God is going to solve it in a way that will shock the world for everybody to know that God is always God.
“Please, I don’t want this position to be a platform for you to start stalking anyone. Do what you know is right.”
While also urging the newly sworn-in appointees to support the government in a way that will promote its image, Fubara warned that there will be consequences should the commissioners who were sworn in last week attempt to work against his administration to destroy.
“Let me also use this medium to direct the Secretary to the State Government to assign the commissioners that were sworn in last week with their responsibilities. Let the SSG assign only those of you who are here today back to their former offices. Let it be part of my birthday gift to you.
“But let me also say this, coming and taking back your position is not for you to use it to destroy my government. Whatever it is that you’re doing, it is not about me.
“It is about the things that you can stand to defend and be proud of many years after.”
Platinum Times reports that the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the feud between Fubara, and his estranged political godfather and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, which eventually culminated in an eight-point resolution that included the reinstatement of pro-Wike’s appointees. .
No fewer than nine commissioners resigned their appointments while the impasse between both Wike and Fubara lasted.
Also, 27 lawmakers believed to be loyalists of Wike defected to the All Progressives Congress.