Rivers: Wike’s Loyalists Reject Fubara’s Redeployment, Resign from Cabinet

•Say governor not ready for peace

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The two cabinet members in the Governor Siminalayi Fubara government, who were redeployed to new ministries,have resigned their appointment.

The former commissioners, Prof Zaccheaus Adangor and Isaac Kamalu, loyalists of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had also sent in their resignation letter through the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, yesterday.

In their separate resignation letters addressed to the governor, they claimed that the job was no longer convenient for them.

The former Attorney General and Commissioner for justice, Adangor, who was reassigned to Ministry of Special Duties, said “I wish to state for the record, that I am no longer willing to continue to serve in the administration of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, in any capacity whatsoever.”

He claimed that “the Governor of Rivers State had in the past couple of weeks wilfully interfered with the performance of my duties as the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Rivers State by directing me not to defend, oppose, or appear in suits instituted against the Honourable Attorney-General and the Government of Rivers State by persons admittedly hired and sponsored by the Government of Rivers State.

“That having served the government and good people of Rivers State dutifully as member of the Rivers State Executive Council for the past five (5) years, it has become imperative for me to quit the administration in order to preserve my reputation.”

On his part, former Commissioner for Finance, Kamalu, who was redeployed to Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, and also rejected his new posting expressed that he would rather quit than be in the government where the atmosphere was not peaceful.

He said after the peace agreement meeting with President Bola Tinubu, he expected a government that would work in accordance with the laid down rules.

Kamalu also disagreed with the announcement of the increased in State Internally Generated Revealed (IGR) by the governor, saying although the amount was not  as declared but achievement was accumulated efforts of past government.

In his long resignation letter addressed directly to the governor, Kamalu said, “Your Excellency would recall that I served under the Administration of His Excellency, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, now Honorable Minister of the Capital Territory, Abuja, originally as Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning (2015-2019) and subsequently as Commissioner for Finance – with oversight responsibility for the Rivers State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (2019- 2023).

“The mandates of the respective Ministries were to the best of our abilities (as ministries) duly carried out and at all times material relevant reforms were embarked upon for improved performance and effective and sustainable service delivery.”

On the peace pact, Kamalu said, “You will respectfully recall that when the climate of discord became unbearable I and other like-minded members of the Executive Council that were appointed by you resigned.

“In the course of official engagements I have reiterated the need for this peace and the fact that we all are wiling and determined to work for this. It is very difficult to deliver good governance where there is acrimony and discord.

“It is not the point of service that is important but the climate. Our present  circumstance makes service delivery extremely challenging. I still hold the belief that it is never too late for peace.

“In view of the above, I find it difficult to accept the redeployment. I do not accept it. I reject it and convey to you my immediate resignation as commissioner and member of the Rivers State Executive Council with effect from the date of this letter.”