“Rivers Dep. Gov. Case Worse Than Spare Tyre,” Loyalists Cry Out, Say She Is Sidelined In  Critical Affairs Of State

By Ayodele Oni

Coming out of a political crisis orchestrated by his godfather and supporters, the Rivers state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara is again embroiled in a fresh brickbats over allegation of sidelining his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

Odu has just survived an impeachment onslaught orchestrated by members of the state House of Assembly against her and her boss, Fubara, following intervention by President Bola Tinubu.

But, supporters of the deputy governor are now crying foul over her sideline in the scheme of things, especially in the recomposition of the state’s newly dissolved cabinet.

Already, there are strong indications of a possible fresh crisis as supporters loyal to the Deputy Governor, have threatened a showdown against the governor Fubara, should he continue to sideline her in the scheme of things.

The governor, Fubara, had, last week, dissolved his cabinet few days after the recent reconciliatory meeting brokered by President Tinubu who waded into the endless feud between him and his estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Reacting to the dissolution and planned reconstitution of the cabinet, the loyalists to the deputy governor requested for her involvement, lamenting that she can no longer continue to be a passive onlooker in a government she is supposed to be a major player.

Making the appeal under the platform of a Port Harcourt based association, Progressives for the Oppressed Group, the loyalists warned of the dangers of Governor Fubara’s deliberate maltreatment of the deputy governor, which has resulted in her floating, sidelining and neglect.

They equally expressed shock that she has no single Commissioner, no Special Adviser, no Senior Special Adviser, and no nominee into any board.

They further lamented the blunt refusal of the governor to even grant her request to nominate the Chairman of her Local Government Area (LGA), pleading with Governor Fubara to reconsider his stand and give her a sense of belonging.

Director, Public Relations of the group, Japhet Amadi, who decried the plight of the deputy governor in a chat with the Daily Sun, claimed that she had kept quiet in the face of the neglects because she hoped that her principal would cede the nomination of the chairman of her LGA to her, until her nominee was unfortunately dropped.

“It is very unfortunate that the governor never cared about his continued neglect of his deputy. Right from time they assumed offices, she was never given the opportunity to make any nomination into the cabinet.

“She never nominated a councillor, Commissioner, SA, SSA, and or member of any board. She had kept quiet, hoping that she will be allowed to nominate her LGA Chairman, but her candidate was eventually stepped down without a single explanation to her,” Amadi complained.

While reacting further to the precarious situation the deputy governor has continued to face, the loyalists lamented that she has been dying in silence over her principal’s maltreatment, especially in denying her almost all the comforts attached to her office.

The text message sent to justify the claims, read: “Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, has been worse than a spare tyre since she assumed office in 2023. She has been completely sidelined in major and critical affairs of the state.

“She is not invited to many critical meetings. She is not supervising any ministry in line with the established statutory traditional responsibility of her office in Rivers State, where deputy governors usually supervise the Ministry of Health.

“She is not even in the know of government activities in her LGA despite being the highest ranking political leader from Obite community in Onelga. She has no official car attached to her.

She is using the old car she inherited from the last administration even when her principal, the governor purchased several new cars for himself,” the loyalists claimed.

While lamenting further, they alleged that; “It is even more hurtful that the State Assembly is dragging her along with the governor, a confirmation that she remains absolutely loyal to the governor because, despite all the ill treatments, she has refused to join the Wike’s camp.”