Rivers Crisis: Four commissioners quit Fubara’s cabinet in one day
Three more cabinet members, all commissioners, on Thursday resigned from Governor Sim Fubara’s government to add more sizzle to the crisis rocking Rivers State polity.
The commissioners are loyalists of immediate past governor and current FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.
They are the Commissioner for Works George-Kelly Alabo, who served in the same capacity under Nyesom Wike, the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Inime Aguma and the Finance commissioner, Isaac Kamalu.
Their resignation makes it four of such dramatic resignations in one day, coming hours after the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Prof Zacchaeus Adangor walked the same path.
“I hereby resign my appointment as the Commissioner for Works, Rivers State, effective immediately. My decision to resign is anchored on my conscience, personal philosophy, and professional ethics,” Commissioner for Works Alabo said in the letter addressed to the governor. “This decision was taken after deep introspection. I appreciate Your Excellency for the opportunity to serve my beloved Rivers State as Commissioner for Works.”
Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Aguma, cited “personal” reasons for her resignation.
She wrote: “I hereby tender my resignation as the Honourable Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Rivers State on this day 14th of December 2023. I thank Your Excellency for the privilege to serve in the State Executive Council. My decision to resign is personal and based on other pressing commitments. I wish Your Excellency a successful tenure and pray for best wishes in all your endeavours.”
Though none of the commissioners mentioned the current dogfight between Fubara and Wike as reason for their resignation, but political watchers linked their actions to the crisis which has torn the state Assembly apart.