Fubara, Rivers leaders to compile new commissioners' list
• Stakeholders hail governor’s disposition to peace Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is holding crucial consultations with elders and leadership of the House of Assembly to pick members of his
• Stakeholders hail governor's disposition to peace
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is holding crucial consultations with elders and leadership of the House of Assembly to pick members of his cabinet sequel to this week's resolution of his quarrel with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.
Also to be named are a new Chief of Staff (CoS) and Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
The quarrel was settled by President Bola Tinubu at a meeting with both sides and the governor thereafter dissolved the cabinet to pave the way for a new one.
Expected in the new cabinet are some of those who worked with Wike to make Fubara governor in 2023.
A source familiar with the issue told The Nation that Wike is due in Port Harcourt this weekend for consultation.
"It will be an enlarged meeting where leaders of the rainbow coalition are expected to be in attendance. Of course, the leadership of the House of Assembly is also expected to partake in the meeting,” the source said.
"A brand new list of commissioners will be compiled. The governor is doing everything possible to ensure permanent peace in the state and he is working within an ultimatum to make things right", he said.
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According to the source, the new commissioners will be members of the same political camp.
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He added: “there was nothing like Fubara's camp and Wike's camp at the beginning. The governor came through Wike and his political family and if not for the crisis, there wouldn't have been any dichotomy.
"Now that the crisis is over, the governor is expected to return home. There is no one that will make the new list that is not from the same political family with Fubara".
Activities at the Port Harcourt Government House were low key yesterday, a fallout of the cabinet dissolution..
Most of the offices including the SSG's office were under lock and key.
It was gathered that the commissioners list would be transmitted to Rivers Sate Assembly Speaker Martins Amaewhule next week for screening and confirmation of the nominees.
Some stakehokders, who hailed the governor for his disposition to permanently end the crisis, however, said any list to be sent to the House of Assembly must represent the interest of Rivers.
A former member of House of Representatives, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, expressed happiness that peace had been restored in the state.
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Nwuke said: "What we expect is that it will be a list drawn in the interest of Rivers. Rivers people have always wanted proper settlement and the settlement is here. One of the indications of proper settlement is that we are now talking in terms of the governor submitting a list.
"What that means is that the institutions of democracy are working together at last. The atmosphere is clement enough and the House will be expecting the governor's submission. We don't expect that there will be problem going forward."
On the opposition of some residents to the governor's decision to end the crisis, Nwuke daid: "Even in war, people come together at a roundtable to have discussions. Those who are extensively angry have their point but also know that what is critical from the point of view of the governor is Rivers interest.
"Any solution found that will help achieve peace and development is welcomed. Many people are already fatigued with constant disagreements. We are losing sight of the trajectory we are travelling on; competing with Lagos. In the last three years we have lost grounds fighting ourselves".
The Ikwerre People's Congress (IPC) Worldwide hailed the recent peace accord between Fubara and Wike and lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for coming to the rescue.
IPC in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Livinstone Wechie, said the new list of commissioners should consist of genuinely patriotic hands with the requisite credentials confidence and demonstrate capacity, competence and skills.
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IPC said: "Our stance is that going forward, the interest of Rivers State and the people must take priority over any other interest.
“With regard to the expected List of Commissioners to form the State Executive Council, IPC Worldwide counsels that it should consist of genuinely patriotic hands with the requisite credentials to inspire confidence and demonstrate capacity, competence and skills.
"It must be composed of team players to drive a People-centered governance model that will be accountable to Rivers people and ensure that the gap in development is filled to gain lost grounds.
"As the Socio-Political and Socioeconomic platform of Nde-Ikwerre, we believe that there is no excuse for not having the best at this time again. The prospective Commissioners must know that Rivers people will not condome arbitrariness or absolute loyalty to any interest whether individual, personality or otherwise that undermines the interest of the people.
"This is due to the incalculable loss that the State has suffered owing to the unfortunate political instability that almost at rested governance for long.
"IPC Worldwide and other critical stakeholders will place a watch on the new Cabinet to periodically review performance and ensure sanction for failure because we want both this administration and Rivers State to succeed.
"We urge the governor to stop at nothing by consulting widely to ensure that no matter the political realities, we must put forward the best team so as to deliver excellently during their period of service.”
