Fubara Reinstates Awuse As Chairman, Rivers State Council Of Traditional Rulers

By Adesina Soyooye

The Traditional Ruler of Emohua Kingdom, Ohna Sergeant Awuse has been reinstated by the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, as the Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council.

In the heat of the political crisis which engulfed the State over the untidy relationship between Fubara and his political godfather, Nyesom Wike, Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, the Governor had removed Awuse, a very close ally of the Minister as the Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council.

Since then, however, excuse the cliché, so much water has passed under the bridge. There has been some kind of reconciliation between the waring parties to the extent that Fubara has publicly relinquished his position as the Political Leader of the State, and ceded it to Wike.

At the time of Awuse’s removal, Wike had complained, and accused Fubara of wickedness for removing Awuse while the Traditional Ruler was critically ill after a major surgery.

Therefore, since the reconciliation, it was no surprise that the

Secretary to the Rivers State Government, ‎Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, in a statement on Friday, October 30, announced the reinstatement  of Awuse as the Chairman.

According to the statement, the (re)appointment is with immediate effect.

The statement reads in part: ‎”His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, the Governor of Rivers State, has approved the appointment of His Majesty, Eze (Sir) Sergeant Chidi Awuse, DSSRS, JP, Nne-Nwe-Eli, Emohua, XIII (Olo IV), as the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.

‎

‎”The appointment takes immediate effect.”

The Governor, in 2024, when he removed Awuse, had cited his long absence from State activities. The announcement of his

removal was made during a meeting between Fubara had with prominent traditional rulers in the state at Government House, Port Harcourt.

Fubara had immediately also announced the paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor local government area of the state, Eze Chike Worlu Wodon as the new Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.

Fubara had also cited disrespect to his office by Awuse. For instance, he said the the council produced a calendar for the year 2024, and insulted the state government by deliberately refusing to include his photographs and that of his deputy.

Said the governor then: “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 on me, I announce that the tenure of Chief Sergeant Awuse has been terminated.”