We Will Follow Court Order, Preserve Status Quo Until February 28 — Rivers Government Addresses Commissioner Appointments

January 25, 2024 Wale Ponnle

The re-appointment of nine former commissioners has been put on hold until February 28 due to a Federal High Court ruling, which the Rivers State government has stated it is committed to respecting.

Remember that in the midst of the state’s political unrest in December 2023, the commissioner voluntarily resigned.

Speaking to public concerns over the recent rescreening of the commissioners, the state’s Commissioner of Information, Joe Johnson, stated that the action complies with the court decision as well as the Abuja agreement.

Speaking on Today 95.1 FM’s Real Talk programme on Wednesday, the Commissioner stated: “We sent it; the Assembly didn’t develop it on their own. It wasn’t faked.

“The governor had an eight-point agenda with His Excellency the President, and that was part of the decision taken in that auspicious moment. So, it would be wrong to begin to lie to Rivers people.

“We are bent on doing everything without compromising the integrity of the state. If you listen to the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, he also read that he got a letter from the Governor. He wouldn’t be lying.

“If you will recall, the conflicting judgments that we have gotten from the Omotosho and the Abdul Malik courts two days ago: one gave an order, and the other one says maintain status quo.

“And then in equity, when two equities arrive, the last takes pre-eminence.

“We are obedient to the law; we are a government that is governed by the Rule of Law. If the law says maintain status quo, it means remain where you are until 28 of February.”

The commissioners were rescreened on January 17 but were not formally inaugurated because they had quit in the midst of political unrest. On January 16, sixteen new Permanent Secretaries were sworn in to perform administrative tasks.

Control of the political system in Rivers State is said to be the cause of the political unrest that started just six months into Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s tenure.

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Wale Ponnle

A passionate writer of everything politics in Nigeria with the goal and purpose of bringing authentic information and unbiased news to everyone everywhere.

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