Barely one month to the expected termination of his appointment as Rivers Sole Administrator, the Cross River born retired naval chief, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas is still churning out appointments as if his term is just beginning.
In one fell swoop, the administrator has approved the appointment of chairmen and members of eight boards and commissions for various agencies, ministries and departments in the state.
Interestingly, loyalists of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom.Wike dominated the list of appointees released by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika.
Among the boards and commissions affected are the Rivers State University, with Okey Wali (SAN) as Chairman, Governing Council, Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board with Samuel Ogeh as Chairman, Rivers State Senior Secondary Education Board, with Tony Egwurugwu as chairman, River State Internal Revenue Service, with Israel Egbunefu as Chairman and Rivers State Waste Management Agency, with Samuel Nwanosike as chairman.
Others are Rivers State Contributoy Health Protection Program, with Prof Princewill Chike as Chairman, Rivers State Microfinance Agency, with Prof Adolphus Toby as Chairman and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital Board, with Dr. Sampson Parker as Chairman,
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The administrator had recently appointed members of the Local Government Service Commission and the Civil Service Commission.
With the local government election expected to be conducted on August 30, 2025, the administrator would have succeeded in filling all available positions where appointments could be made by Governor Siminilayi Fubara on his expected return in September .
Analysts say the sweeping appointments being made by the administrator is the culmination of the plot to effectively render Fubara politically impotent on return to office.
Observers also express fear that the same scenario would play out during the appointment of commissioners since the governor has committed himself to doing whatever is Wike’s bidding in so far as peace is restored to the state.
It remains to be seen how the embattled governor would navigate the system when he returns and still render effective service to the people of the state.
