Former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, fell out with his anointed successor, Sim Fubara because he wanted to control and micromanage the affairs of the oil-rich state.
According to an aide of the incumbent governor, the resignation of commissioners supposedly appointed by Fubara is a pointer that the governor never appointed them.
The aide who asked not to be named explained that Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory wanted to control what the governor did at all times.
“Yes, the commissioners’ resignation has shown that the governor did not appoint them. They were never his nominees. The list of the commissioners and advisers was handed over to the governor by the former governor with instructions on portfolios and offices to occupy. Even security agents were handed over to the governor with clear instructions on where to post them,” the aide told Punch Newspaper.
Adding, “Is there a way the governor can appoint commissioners, advisers and others and they will be resigning this way? It is not possible. Don’t forget that we are just about seven months in office. Commissioners appointed by the governor won’t leave.”
Chronicle NG had reported that at least six commissioners resigned on Thursday including Zacchaeus Adangor, Rivers Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
On December 13, Wike turned 56 and Fubara sent him a public birthday message, describing him as “my oga”.
“Your excellency, my dear wife and I, and the good people of Rivers State join your family and friends to felicitate you on this day.
“We sincerely pray that your new age brings joy and good health.
“Once again, happy birthday and hearty congratulations.”
Former presidential aide and veteran journalist, Laolu Akande, described the ongoing rift between the two men as “disappointing“.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday, Akande, who is the TV’s in-house political analyst, dissected the political crisis rocking the state and chided the FCT minister for failing to live up to expectations as an experienced and astute politician by using his expertise to resolve the matter before degenerating into a bigger crisis.
“It is disappointing that the FCT Minister is not managing his own anointed governor; he owns an anointed governor, and the responsibilities are more on him than the governor,” Akande said.
In a show of political power, 27 legislators in the Rivers State House of Assembly have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.
The switch by the lawmakers was reportedly masterminded by Wike, although the APC has denied that he has a hand in the defection.
There have been efforts to impeach Fubara as governor by lawmakers loyal to Wike but the impeachment proceeding was blocked by a high court in Rivers.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
