Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, came under more pressure yesterday following the resignation of three additional commissioners from his cabinet.
Dr. Jacobson Nbina (Transport); Austen Ben-Chioma (Environment) and Dr. Gift Worlu (Housing) turned-in their resignation letters,worsening the crisis between the governor and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.
Nine commissioners have so far dumped the governor.
However, two members of the House of Representatives from the state yesterday threw their weight behind the governor.
Awaji-Inombek Abiante from Fubara’s Andoni/Opobo/Nkuro and Boma Goodhead from Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru led various youth groups to rally through the streets of Port Harcourt, the state capital in support of Fubara.
Some of the existing commissioners cited personal reasons for the resignations while others stated no reason but simply thanked Fubara for giving them the opportunity to serve in his cabinet.
On Thursday the Commissioners for Finance, Isaac Kamalu: Justice and Attorney-General, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor; Works, Dr. George Kelly-Alabor; Special Duties, Emeka Woke and Special Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Inime Aguma, left Fubara’s cabinet.
The Abiante and Goodhead-led protesters marched from the UTC Junction along Azikiwe Road through to Government House and ended at the State House of Assembly located on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
They urged President Bola Tinubu to call Wike to order ,claiming that the governor was being intimidated by the Minister because he (Fubara) refused to be loyal to a godfather but chose to be loyal to the people who gave him the mandate to govern them.
Abiante commended Fubara for taking steps to renovate the Rivers State House of Assembly complex and showing leadership amidst the political crisis in the state.
He said: “There have been some happenings in the state, we are here to encourage the governor and to tell Rivers people that this is the position of their representatives and offer explanation where necessary and also engage with our constituents to understand if there is any shift in the position that they have taken.
“There is always a prize to be paid for liberty and that is standing strong, standing firm. The governor decided after a structural integrity test that the chambers failed to give the Rivers people befitting chambers for legislative function and while that is ongoing an alternative has been provided.
“No king reigns forever, this is the time for another king who has been lawfully elected.”
