Wike Vs Fubara: Five Commissioners Quit Fibara’s Cabinet In One Day
FIVE Rivers State commissioners believed to be loyalists of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have turned in their resignation from the cabinet of Governor Siminalayi Fubara over the lingering crisis rocking the oil-rich state.
The Commissioner said their resignation is hinged on the toxic working conditions in their various offices.
The five persons who announced their resignation through a letter to the governor include the Commissioner for Social Welfare, Inime Aguma; Commissioner for Transport Jacobson Nbina; Commissioner for Education, Professor Prince Chinedu Mmom; Commissioner for Housing, Gift Worlu and the Commissioner for Environment, Austen Ben-Chioma.
In the resignation letter dated 15 May 2024, Professor Mmom referenced a “toxic” working environment as his reason for resignation, stating that such an environment would make it impossible to achieve “my set targets for the education sector in the state.”
He, however, thanked Governor Fubara for the opportunity to serve in his administration and wished him well.
The letter read: “It is a truism that a calm, safe and friendly environment would stimulate efficient service delivery and enhanced productivity.
“It is however unfortunate to note that my current workspace has become toxic and no longer guarantees a favourable environment to enable me realize my set targets for the Education sector in the State.
“There is loss of trust, animosity and sharp division among colleagues in the same cabinet which is unhealthy and very unfortunate.
“I want to thank Your Excellency for the opportunity to serve in your cabinet and wish your administration well.
“Kindly accept the assurances of my esteemed regards.”
Professor Mmom was among the Commissioners that resigned from the Fubara cabinet last year during the heat of the political crisis in the state, before the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.
He returned to the Fubara administration as Commissioner for Education but has publicly shown that his loyalty lies with the former governor, Nyesom Wike.
The five resignees bring to nine the number of Commissioners loyal to Wike who have resigned from Governor Fubara’s government. Some are resigning for a second time since the crisis started late last year.
Recall that two Commissioners had earlier resigned after they were redeployed to new ministries. They include Isaac Kamalu who was moved from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Employment Generation & Economic Empowerment and Zacchaeus Adangor who was removed as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Rivers State and made the Commissioner of Special Duties (Governor’s Office).
Two other Commissioners resigned after they were given federal appointments by President Bola Tinubu. Those in this category are Commissioner of Works, Dax George-Kelly who was appointed as the Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) and Emeka Woke, Commissioner for Special Projects who resigned following his appointment as the CEO of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.