Rivers Sole Administrator Sad Over Head of Service’s Resignation, Removes SSG

By Adesina Soyooye

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (rtd), has made two key appointments to kick-start his Administration.

This is even as he expressed sadness over the resignation of the Head of Service, Dr. George Nweke.  It is not confirmed, yet, if Nweke, a distinguished Civil Servant, was asked to quit or if he did so on his own volition. But Ibas, who has accepted his resignation, expressed sadness over it, and thanked him for his contributions to his one-week old Administration.

He appointed, in the interim, Dr. Mrs Iyingi Brown, Permanent Secretary, Welfare, Office of the Head of Service, as the Acting Head of Service.

The Sole Administrator who  met with the Executive Council Members of the State on Monday, also, announced the appointment of  Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika as the  new Secretary to the State Government, SSG.

In a statement, the Government said Professor Worika’s appointment followed “a rigorous selection process that considered his impressive credentials and extensive experience in academia, international legal practice and high level policy advisory roles.”

He replaces  Tammy Wenike Danagogo who was SSG under suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Danagogo’s replacement was no surprise

as the suspended Members of the House of Assembly were up in arms against him as they were against Fubara. Incidentally, he was also SSG under Wike.

It is not known yet if Ibas will dissolve the State Executive Council, as well, or work with members, at least, for now.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu declared an initial six months State of Emergency in Rivers State in a bid to arrest the political crisis which engulfed the State over the bitter political disagreement between Governor Fubara and his estranged political godfather and predecessor, now Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The President appointed Ibas as Sole Administrator, and suspended Fubara and Members of the State House of Assembly from office.