Fight over commissioners’ appointment heats up in Rivers

In public, the war ended the day the State of Emergency imposed on Rivers State ended but hidden from the public’s eye is an ongoing and cruelly, bitter fight-to-finish between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Mr. Nyesom Wike, himself a former governor of the state but now the Minister, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. The Neighbourhood Newspaper has it in undeniable authority that both camps shall soon enter an open round of conflict. This medium can also authoritatively confirm that the composition of commissioners-nominees by Gov. Fubara is the smouldering ember.

In September when President Bola Tinubu lifted the six months State of Emergency he slammed on Rivers State, added to the Supreme Court judgment that favourably made Wike have the upper hand, Gov. Fubara returned home like an emperor conquered in a battle. The apex Court’s decision to favour the FCT Minister presented Fubara as a puppet who would only remain a titular head while Wike would call the shots. The indications were rife that Gov. Fubara had been ostracised by both the Supreme Court’s judgment and the return of the hostile Members of the State House of Assembly who were Wike’s yes-men. Before the

imposition of the emergency interregnum, the lawmakers had muted an impeachment of the governor even though there were no impeachable offences known to the public.

Soon as Gov. Fubara resumed office and the restored State legislators resumed sitting, it was reported that the first signs appeared. The lawmakers expected the Governor to present a Supplementary Budget since the apex court had ruled that he re-presented the 2025 budget which was already more than half-way implemented. The Supreme Court had also ruled that those who were

nominated to become Commissioners, and who were screened by the 3-member Rivers State House of Assembly led by Hon. Oko-Jaja, loyal to the governor, were in the eye of the law, not commissioners. All of them therefore, became victims of that judgement. So, the pro-Wike lawmakers expected the Governor to seek their approval to a Supplementary Budget and list of
commissioners-nominees. But the wait turned into an endless one as Gov. Fubara neither sought for a supplementary budget nor list of new commissioners. The Neighbourhood gathered that the Governor declined pressure to seek those averment as that would bring him face-to-face with the lawmakers. Instead, it was gathered Gov. Fubara decided to run the state with whatever money he met in the state coffers. As for commissioners, he reportedly decided to use only the ones the Supreme Court ruling did not affect. He also reportedly fell back on Permanent Secretaries to drive daily government activity. But with the year coming to an end, Gov. Fubara is bound by Law to approach the House of Assembly for their
approval of his proposed Appropriation Bill. He is also expected to forward names of commissioners-nominees to same House. But The Neighbourhood has learnt that whereas Gov. Fubara is tidying up his Appropriation Bill, being a statutory obligation if he must run the state, the case of appointing fresh set of commissioners might wait. Reason?

On Sunday(today), The Neighbourhood gathered that there is a war over the composition. Whereas a familiar, insider source disclosed that Mr. Wike had submitted a list of his picks to be appointed commissioners, Gov. Fubara is reportedly insisting that unlike the fate that befell him in 2023 when Wike nominated all the commissioners, Chief of Staff, as well as the Governor’s personal security details, this time he would nominate persons of his choice. Our source disclosed that when Wike hit a brick wall, he threw another option – the Governor should concede the Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning, Health, Housing and Urban Development, Education as well as Justice.

In 2007 when the Nigerian Supreme Court declared Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi the duly elected Governor of Rivers State against the “K-Leg” declared by then President Olusegun Obasanjo, a similar scenario played out. As Amaechi returned from his self-exile in Ghana, to Port Harcourt to form his government, one of the men who attended Amaechi’s caucus meetings where rewards were shared to loyalists was Wike. Wike told Amaechi to appoint him Commissioner for Finance, a request Amaechi did not think twice to reject. Amaechi had reportedly confided in close ally that Wike was very corrupt and that appointing Wike the state’s Finance Commissioner would amount to “appointing an armed robber to guard a stash of cash.” Later, Amaechi appointed Wike Chief of Staff, Government House.

Going by the war over the list of commissioners-to-be for Rivers State, this medium’s source revealed that Gov. Fubara might continue to run the state for now without a full composition of the State cabinet. “The man does not want to go into two tough battles same time. It is most likely he wants to go easy but steady taking it one at a time”, the source added. Going by the revelations, Gov. Fubara might not send any fresh list of would-be commissioners to the state Assembly until after the 2026 budget was “is fought and won”.