Fubara

Governor Siminalayi Fubara has cancelled the 10,000 jobs in the Rivers state civil service approved by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, shortly before the end of his tenure.

Before leaving office, Wike approved the immediate employment of a significant number of youths to fill existing vacancies in the state’s workforce with immediate effect.

But during an interactive session with stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Friday, Fubara announced a cancel of the recruitment.

The governor noted that the process was flawed and compromised by those entrusted to handle it.

He stated that a more transparent process would commence soon, expressing sadness that when the names of those selected from the 23 local government areas were scrutinized, they were people smuggled in for political patronage.

“I know that is the first question, the ten thousand jobs. When we came on board we already had details that were submitted to us from the 23 local government areas,” Fubara said.

“You will agree with me that when we subjected those names to proper scrutiny, most of those names, in fact, 60 per cent of those names were over-aged. They were names that people brought for political patronage.

“But what we are talking about today is employment for the future. I, personally after the analysis of those things, said ‘How will you employ somebody who is 52 years old as a civil servant?’

“How many years is the person going to work before retirement?”

Meanwhile, Fubara has said the social contract between his administration and the Rivers people will remain an unbroken bond to drive governance on a healthy footing.

The governor, therefore, challenged service providers for the Rivers State Waste Management Agency to redouble their efforts and make sure that refuse wastes are cleared off the streets promptly to have a cleaner city always.

Fubara, who was represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, gave the charge when he received a delegation of leaders and members of the RIWAMA Service Providers Association, on a Solidarity Walk to Government House Gate in Port Harcourt on Friday.

The Chairman, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr Samuel Nwanosike, has vowed not to vacate his office at the end of his tenure on June 16.

In a viral video circulated on Thursday, Nwanosike directly addressed the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, stating his intention to remain in office beyond the stipulated date.

He cited an extension of tenure by state lawmakers under the leadership of Martin Amaghule as justification, due to the state government’s failure to conduct local government elections.

In the two-minute video, Nwanosike asserted that he would continue in his role based on the lawmakers’ directive.

He warned that the people of Ikwerre LG would resist any attempt to remove him from office.

He declared, “Let them come and try to remove me if they dare. The countdown begins—23 more days to go.”

Nwanosike also challenged those questioning the authority of Martin Amaewhule, stating, “Who are you to say Martin Amaewhule is not the Rivers House of Assembly Speaker?

“If Amaewhule declares that the governor’s failure to conduct local government elections means I should remain in office, then I will stay in office. This is the law in Rivers State.”

He further warned potential challengers, “We don’t wear jeans in Ikwerre Local Government. We wear white, we tie wrappers, we wear Ogbakata. Come and disobey the law, we will wait for you. The law of Nigeria is the law passed by Martin Amaewhule. If you have the courage, show your face.”

The chairman’s statements have sparked widespread reactions as the situation unfolds.

He added, “Who are you to say Martins Amaewhule is not the Rivers House of Assembly Speaker? If Amaewhule says that because the governor of Rivers State failed in his duty to conduct local government elections.

“And that, I, Dr Nwanosike Samuel, whose tenure by the oath of office I took and the certificate of return I was issued when I contested my second tenure election should remain in office. So shall we remain in the office in Rivers State!

“We are sending a message to those who are threatening them to wear their jeans – do like this, don’t do like that. We don’t wear jeans in Ikwere local government. We wear white, we tie wrapper we wear Ogbakata. Come and disobey the law, we will wait for you. The law of Nigeria is the law passed by Martin Amaewhule. If dem born you well, show your face. Thank you.”