Less than two weeks after the appointment of caretaker committee chairmen for the 23 local government councils in Rivers State, divisions have emerged within Governor Siminalayi Fubara's support base over some of these appointments.
According to report from vanguard, the Ogoni Liberation Alliance (OLA) voiced concerns on Thursday, indicating that the Governor faces significant challenges that could weaken his support and benefit the followers of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
OLA claims that many appointees are "political jobbers" rather than the people's choice, specifically pointing out the Khana LGA chairmanship. The group's president, Barieeba Marcus Nwile, accused the governor’s chief of staff, Rt. Hon Edison Ehie, of selecting nominees without considering public preference.
He cited the example of Marvin Yobana, who was appointed by Ehie without community input, suggesting widespread discontent among those who supported the government.
Nwile warned that the reappointment of Yobana, who hails from the same district as the previous council chairman, Hon Thomas Bariere, could cause internal conflicts in Fubara's political base. He emphasized that this situation is a critical test of Governor Fubara's political acumen and could impact his reputation.
Additionally, there are complaints about the governor failing to adequately reward loyal supporters, with key opportunities going to those closer to the government rather than those who actively supported him.
Nwile urged the Governor to disregard self-serving advice from his officials and to adhere to the established zoning arrangements in Khana. He predicted interesting developments in Rivers State politics in the coming days.