By Abiola Olawale
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, on Friday, announced the appointment of the King of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, as the chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.
The Governor unveiled the appointment of Eze Wodo when he received a committee of traditional Rulers at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Eze Wodo is now set to replace King Sergeant Awuse, an ally of a former governor and the incumbent Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The New Diplomat reports that Awuse who became a traditional ruler in his Emohua Kingdom in Emohhua Local Government Area two years ago, was appointed by Wike as the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.
Meanwhile, during a meeting with the traditional rulers, Fubara said the appointment of a new Chairman is due to the “inactivity and the absence of effective leadership of the council under Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi House”.
The Governor accused Awuse of failing to steer the council’s affairs right and being unable to promote cordial relationships among members and with the state government.
The governor said Awuse has not been leading the council effectively for a while due to his alleged role in the ongoing crisis in the state.
He said: “I want the council to live up to its responsibility. From my observation, the council is moribund. So, I can feel that the council, for a while now, has been very inactive. Inactive because, maybe, the chairman has decided not to be responsible as a chairman. I think that is the best way to describe it.
“I am not talking about other things that have been happening. But I feel there are responsibilities of the chairman, and so far, I have not felt it and you can also attest to that, that you are not seeing that leadership that you expect.
“I would like to draw your attention to a special insult that was meted to this government. The council produced a calendar for the year of our Lord 2024, and the Governor’s picture and the Deputy Governor’s picture are not in the calendar.
“I want to ask you: does it show any sign that, that leadership is working with this government? I hope you have a copy of it. Does it show that your chairman is working with this government?
“So, I have decided today, we have to move forward. By the special grace of God, the administrative life-span of the chairman is one year, which is renewable. So, at this particular time, I have to say that with the power vested in me, I announce that the tenure of Chief Sergeant Awuse has been terminated.”
Fubara said at such a critical time of his administration, when peace is cardinal with traditional rulers, who are closer to the people, not properly coordinated, it will be difficult to achieve the required harmony and coexistence among the people.
He also clarified that the Eze Apara Kingdom could also access every traditional ruler, elicit their cooperation and be able to provide the needed direction that the council dearly needed.
He continued: “So, going forward, there is a need to have a leadership that will accommodate everybody and move this council forward.
“Let me, before saying other things, announce here that the new chairman from this particular moment will be Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, Eze Ohna Apara, Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom. He will be the chairman, of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, and I believe strongly that he is going to do better and accommodate everyone.”
It would be recalled that Rivers State has been experiencing a period of political turmoil following a fallout between Fubara, and his predecessor, Wike.
While the reasons for the acrimony between the duo remain top secret, some insider sources had said that Wike and Fubara had been purportedly battling for control of the oil-rich state’s resources and political machinery.
Sources have said that Fubara is allegedly not listening to Wike, who was vital in his victory at the 2023 governorship election.
