Wike’s loyalist resigns as Gov. Fubara’s chief of staff

Joseph Irikefe

The Chief of Staff (CoS) to Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Mr. Chidi Amadi has resigned from the position.The Rivers commissioner for information and communications, Joseph Johnson, confirmed Amadi’s resignation.

This is coming amid a months-long political crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP-controlled state).

Johnson said Governor Fubara would announce a replacement for Amadi, a loyalist of the immediate past Governor Nyesom Wike, at the appropriate time.

He said: “The former Chief of Staff, Hon Chidi Amadi, has resigned. The governor will announce another Chief of Staff at the appropriate time. “It is the prerogative of the governor to appoint when he wants it. He will tell us and we will announce it and you will also get the release to that effect.”

Following rumours that Edison Ogerenye Ehie, who resigned as the factional Speaker of the state House of Assembly, has been appointed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara as his Chief of Staff, a source close to him (Ehie) spoke.

As reported on Thursday, January 4, Ehie was being pencilled in to replace Amadi as the Chief of Staff to Governor Fubara. Wike is the current minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

The source, who asked not to be named, warned that Ehie’s rumoured appointment as Chief of Staff to the Rivers governor will open another phase of crisis between Messrs Fubara and Wike.

Earlier, Governor Fubara said Ehie resigned as the Speaker of the state House of Assembly for peace to reign. The Rivers No.1 citizen reiterated that all the steps taken so far by his allies were in the interest of peace, adding that they were not borne out of fear.

Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after Ehie resigned, Fubara assured that no amount of political crisis could truncate the tenure of his administration. Fubara assured that he is not pretentious about his commitment to providing quality leadership.