Two Wike ex-commissioners and six others are screened to join Fubara's cabinet

On Tuesday, the Rivers State House of Assembly party loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara screened and confirmed eight commissioner-designates for the State Executive Council.

On Tuesday, the Assembly, led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo, examined the nominees in the temporary legislative chambers at the Administrative Block of Government House in Port Harcourt.

The House requested two former commissioners, Dr. Peter Medee and Eloka Tasie-Amadi, who served as Energy and Works Commissioners during Nyesom Wike’s initial government, to take a bow and leave.

The other six nominees faced minimal questioning from pro-Fubara politicians and were thus awarded a clean sheet of health as commissioners-designate.

The departure of five pro-Wike commissioners last week left gaps in the cabinet.

The commissioners resigned their positions amid the rivalry between Wike and Fubara, claiming a poisonous working climate as the reason for their departure.

On Tuesday, the Speaker charged the screening commissioners-designate to work with Fubara to bring the rewards of democracy to the Rivers people.

He also told the governor to avoid distractions and to keep up the good work.

Victor Oko-Jumbo said, “As a legislature what we can do is to ensure that we create an atmosphere where His Excellency will do more.

“While we commend His Excellency for his numerous achievements in office we also use this opportunity to call on His Excellency not to be distracted. We call on him to remain focused on the mandate that the people of Rivers State have given to him.

“We also call on him not to be biased. He should continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people.”

Speaking to newsmen after the screening, the Leader of the House, Sokari Goodboy, commended the governor for the calibre of people sent to the House for screening.

“Today we held our sitting and in the order paper we had the screening of eight commissioners and we know too well that the executive arm of the State needs to be filled and we are happy and proud of the nominees.

“The names the Governor forwarded to us are all men of great repute. They have good Curriculum Vitae. Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie as the Speaker of the third Assembly during that period the seat of 25 members was declared vacant,” Goodboy said.