The count of resignations within the Rivers State Executive Council has reached nine, with two additional commissioners submitting their resignations following the departure of seven colleagues from Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s cabinet.
The most recent individuals to submit their resignations are Emeka Woke, the Commissioner for Special Projects, and Austen Ben-Chioma, the Commissioner for Environment.
Woke previously served as the Chief of Staff to former governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and was also the former Local Government Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area. On the other hand, Ben-Chioma held the position of Commissioner for Urban Development in the immediate past administration.
Woke’s resignation letter is dated November 14, 2023, and was reported concurrently with the resignation of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Zacchaeus Adangor (SAN).
“My decision to resign at this time necessitated by pressing family demands for my time and attention as well as the desire to afford other deserving Rivers people the opportunity to serve you and the state in that capacity,” Woke’s letter read in part.
However, Ben-Chioma’s resignation letter is dated December 15, 2023, aligning with the timing of resignations from the rest of the cabinet members.
He emphasized that his decision to step down was driven by personal reasons.
Those who had previously resigned include the state’s Attorney-General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, Commissioner for Works George-Kelly Alabo, Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Commissioner Inime Aguma, and Commissioner of Finance, Isaac Kamalu. Additionally, Commissioner of Transportation, Dr Jacobson B. Nbina, State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Prince Chinedu, and State Commissioner for Housing, Gift Worlu, have also tendered their resignations.
The departure of these nine Commissioners has become publicly known amid the intensification of the political crisis in Rivers State. Prior to this recent wave of resignations, Commissioner Henry Ogiri, overseeing the Ministry of Power, had already left in November to assume a federal appointment as a Commissioner in the National Population Commission.
The Rivers State cabinet is presently left with approximately eight commissioners, pending confirmation that additional cabinet members have not submitted resignations.