Rivers: Celebrations trail alleged appointment of Edison Ehie as Fubara’s Chief of Staff

By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Supporters and close aides of Edison Ehie, the former factional Speaker of Rivers House of Assembly are celebrating his alleged appointment as the Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Ehie, who was leading four of the 38 members of the Rivers House of Assembly resigned his position as Speaker and member representing Ahoada East Constituency 2 in the legislative chamber on 29 December.

However, speculations were rife on Monday evening that Ehie has been appointed Chief of Staff in replacement of Chidi Amadi, a relation of former Governor Nyesom Wike by Governor Fubara.

However, the Rivers State Government has not confirmed the appointment. Sources contacted by our Correspondent were also not willing to deny or confirm speculations of the alleged appointment of Ehie as Chief of Staff to Fubara, though the rumour of the appointment has been trending online since Monday evening.

However, sources close to Edison Ehie confirmed the appointment but do not want to be quoted.

Observers believe that Edison Ehie could not have gambled on his political career by resigning his membership of the Rivers State House of Assembly without assurance of such a plump appointment.

Indeed, shortly after his resignation, Ehie who is also a lawyer, was with the Governor at the 2024 crossover night at Governor Fubara’s village Church in Opobo.

Fubara had at the occasion said, “Ehie resigned for the sake of peace.”

In another speech at an event organised to mark the new year on Monday evening, Fubara said, “Nobody will be thrown under the box. And no decisions have been taken out of fear or intimidation from anybody but for the overall interest of Rivers State”.

But as of the time of filing this report, no official statement concerning Ehie’s appointment has come from either Joseph Johnson Commissioner for Information and Communications or Boniface Onyedi, SSA to Governor on Media.