Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has appointed the King of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, to chair the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.
Eze Wodo, who recently visited Governor Fubara to pledge his support for his administration, is to replace King Sergeant Awuse, an ally of the former governor.
Obio/Akpor Local Government Area is where former Governor Nyesom Wike comes from.
Awuse, a prominent politician, became a traditional ruler in his Emohua Kingdom in Emohhua Local Government Area two years ago.
Despite being new to the revered Council of Traditional Rulers, the former Governor, Nyesom Wike, during a banquet to mark the end of his tenure, announced Awuse, his long-time ally, as the council’s Chairman.
Awuse marked his first year as a Traditional Ruler in June last year while serving as the Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, a role he took over from the King of Opobo where Governor Fubara hails from.
At a meeting with the government classified Traditional Rulers at the Government House today, Governor Fubara said the appointment of a new Chairman is due to the “inactivity and the absence of effective leadership of the council under Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse”.
The Governor accused Awuse of failing to steer the council’s affairs right and being unable to promote cordial relationships among members and with the state government.
Governor Fubara pointed out that under Eze Sergeat Awuse, the council produced a calendar for the year 2024, and insulted the State Government by deliberately refusing to include the photographs of the Governor and the Deputy Governor.
He said such posture, among others, clearly demonstrated that the council under his leadership had not, and would never live up to expectations.
