Political crisis rocking Rivers State has continued to climax as two more commissioners resigned from Governor Sim Fubara’s cabinet on Thursday.
Gatekeepers News reports that the latest to resign from the cabinet are the Commissioner for Works George-Kelly Alabo and his Social Welfare and Rehabilitation counterpart Inime Aguma.
Their resignations come hours after the state’s Attorney-General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Zacchaeus Adangor tendered his resignation to Governor Fubara in a separate letter.
Alabo in the letter addressed to the governor, said, “I hereby resign my appointment as the Commissioner for Works, Rivers State, effective immediately. My decision to resign is anchored on my conscience, personal philosophy, and professional ethics.
“This decision was taken after deep introspection. I appreciate Your Excellency for the opportunity to serve my beloved Rivers State as Commissioner for Works.”
On her part, the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation cited “personal” reasons for her resignation from the cabinet and wished the current administration well.
Aguma wrote, “I hereby tender my resignation as the Honourable Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Rivers State on this day 14th of December 2023.
“I thank Your Excellency for the privilege to serve in the State Executive Council. My decision to resign is personal and based on other pressing commitments. I wish Your Excellency a successful tenure and pray for best wishes in all your endeavours.”
In his resignation earlier in the day, Adangor said the move was based “purely on personal decision”.
The wave of resignation that has hit the Rivers cabinet is the latest twist in the political crisis rocking Rivers state since the rift between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Fubara started.
Both men have been locked in a tussle for the political structure of the state.
Earlier in the week, 27 of the lawmakers originally from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Following this, the leader of another group in the Assembly Edison Ehie declared their seats vacant in the wake of the defection.
Governor Fubara later demolished the Assembly complex, saying the structure which was gutted by fire two months ago was unfit. He thereafter presented the 2024 budget to the Ehie-led group and later assented to it.
A court had barred the Martins Amaewhule-led group who are perceived allies of Wike from using the assembly.
Meanwhile, Amaewhule-led lawmakers held a plenary session at the auditorium of the Assembly on Thursday despite a court order restraining him from acting as the Speaker.
