Fubara appoints new Perm Secs ahead of return of pro-Wike Commissioners

….Fubara gives new Permanent Secretaries with brand SUVs

By Okafor Ofiebor/ Port Harcourt

Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara on Tuesday swore in 16 new Permanent Secretaries who he charged to be the administrative head of their various ministries.

The swearing-in of the Permanent Secretaries came ahead of the re-screening of nine ex-commissioners who dumped his cabinet because of their loyalty to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike for reappointment by Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers House of Assembly tomorrow Wednesday, January 17,
While swearing in the Permanent Secretaries at the Executive Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Fubara promised to provide a conducive working environment that will enable them to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

The governor who said they were not chosen based on political considerations urged them to bring their wealth of experience to bear in contributing their quota to ensure the success of his administration.

Our Correspondent reports that the new Permanent Secretaries were allocated brand new Sports Utility Vehicles, SUVs at the ceremony.

Governor Fubara directed the head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke to hand over the official cars to the Permanent Secretaries immediately after the swearing in Government House.

The new Permanent Secretaries are:

1. HEBRON WISDOM

2. DEDE SAMPSON FRIDAY

3. BRIGGS ATEMEA KARIBO

4. NYEMPE GREGORY

5. NDAH EMMANUEL

6. NGOCHINDO JAMES EPOBARI

7. ISHMAEL TOMONIALADIEOKUMA

8. WAKAMA BOMA A GEORGE

9. NWEKE ONYECHE KELVIN

10. OKEREUKU ALWELL CHINEDUM

11. NDUKUE PATRICK

12. ICHEMATI MAXWELL MBADIWE

13. IWARILAMA-BROWN INYINGI SABINA

14. OGOLO MAURICE ERIC

15. KEJEH RUHUOMA CHINEDU

16. JACOB FAYEOFORI FRANCIS

However, analysts said the appointment and swearing-in of the new Permanent Secretaries may be part of the governor’s political and administrative survival strategies.

A retired top Civil Servant and a keen political observer who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the appointment of the Permanent Secretaries by Fubara may be a plot by the Governor to outwit the trap of working with politically biased ” Returnee Commissioners”, loyal to Nyesom Wike Minister of Federal Capital Territory who had resigned their appointments about a month ago.

“Some of them even openly castigated the Governor and openly displayed disloyalty in their utterances and conduct within the short period they were out of office to please the Minister”.

The Political analyst who retired as a Director and worked under different Governor from the Military also said Fubara can effectively run the affairs of government without relating the “Returnee Commissioners’, who are staging come back due to the eight-point peace accord brokered between him and Wike by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Other observers believe that Fubara may be playing along, patiently waiting for the outcome of the Supreme Court’s judgement in a case instituted by Tonye Cole, candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC challenging his victory at polls.

At the hearing on Monday, the Supreme Court reserved the ruling until a letter date.