…It’s a huge error that may spell doom ahead – former commissioner in Wike govt
The appointment of a serving military officer as Chief of Staff in Rivers State Government House has heightened tension and accusations of plot to ‘militarize’ the government.
Many said it is evidence that a military takeover has taken place in the state.
Some others however said such an ugly development is expected.
Groups including Ijaw Youth Council (Worldwide) and a coalition of 30 civil society organisations have accused the Sole Administrator, Ibok Ekwe Ibas, a retired vice admiral, of being on a mission to militarize the state after he sacked the entire structure of the state starting from commissioners, special advisers, boards, etc.
The Sole Administrator has appointed Aminu Shehu, a Commodore, as the Chief of Staff in Government house. Shehu is expected to coordinate the operations of the Governor’s office and assist in managing government affairs.
He said to be one to oversee members of the State Executive Council and act as the Governor’s liaison with the state executive branch. The appointment said his duties include preparing the Governor’s daily schedule, organizing meetings, arbitrating disputes, and regulating access to the gubernatorial office.
Reacting, Ibim Semenitari, onetime commissioner of information/communications in the state and former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), rejected the appointment of a serving military officer.
She told BusinessDay that the Government House already has a permanent secretary who does what the military chief of staff is being asked to do.
Calling it a superfluous appointment, she said government house cannot be run by a military person. She said the Sole Administrator was easy to swallow because he is seen as a civilian, being a retired officer, but that the chief of staff being a full serving military officer was very raw to the sensitivities of civilians in a democracy.
The social crusader and political activist made it clear that there is no staff to be run in Government house.
She also observed that the Sole Administrator was not expected to make appointments because he is supposed to be an interim administrator.
“Our expectation is that his main task is to reconcile the warring parties and set the stage for return of democracy. Reconciliation should be his mandate, not to be setting up structures for full administration. He is acting like an occupation force.
“A hotel guest does not begin to change furniture to his taste. I don’t understand how he doesn’t understand this.”
Speaking in same tone, another former commissioner of information, Chris Finebone, said it is unimaginable if truly the Chief of Staff to the Administrator is a serving officer in the Nigerian Navy. “I still doubt it. Assuming though not conceding that the gentleman is still serving, then it is a huge error that may spell danger going forward.”
Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the development as a continuation of the illegality people have been crying against. “What is happening in Rivers State is illegality upon illegality and nothing else. The President acted illegally to the disregard of the Nigerian Constitution and appointed a Sole Administrator. The Sole administrator must also act illegally and that is what is happening in Rivers State. He can appoint whoever he wants to appoint illegally and one should not expect anything democratic or constitutional.”
Others however think the militarization may not be out of place, saying it was expected.
Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, Executive Director, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre – Nigeria (YEAC-Nigeria), is of the opinion that what is happening is not unexpected.
He told BusinessDay: “It’s emergency rule. Everything now is emergency. He is more secure seeing serving officers around him in Government House than civilians.”
He warned that a of aberrations may be ahead. “Sack of political appointees was expected. It will come to pass and more may be coming.”
