Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State consolidates his position as the Chief Executive with the positioning of his Chief of Staff Edison Ehie as a thorn in the flesh of his detractors as well as the recent dissolution of the Board of Rivers State Microfinance Agency
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
In a daring move to establish his authority, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has dissolved the Board of the Rivers State Microfinance Agency. The action is regarded as another defiant move of the governor against the stranglehold of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCT on the oil rich state. Again, the fear of the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief (Barr.) Edison Ehie, is the beginning of wisdom for Wike’s loyalists in Rivers State. Those who want to truncate the Ahoada-born lawyer-turned politician, Ehie’s career has taken his case to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the dirty assignment.
Ehie, who became the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Governor Fubara during the height of the political crises in the state, resigned from the state’s House of Assembly to assume his new role as the CoS to Governor Fubara. Ehie had previously represented Ahoada East Constituency II at the House of Assembly.
But INEC, according to reports, had said it rejected Ehie’s resignation citing remarks attributed to the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Gabriel Yomere, during an engagement with the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC). The report also claimed that INEC had declined to initiate a bye-election to replace Ehie.
The same INEC has now denied rejecting Ehie’s resignation from Rivers Assembly. According to a statement signed by the Acting Head of Voter Education and Publicity at the Rivers State INEC, Garaldine Ekelemu, the Commission clarified that the power to organize any election lies solely with its National Headquarters. It explained that the REC’s comments during the IPAC meeting were misconstrued as an official statement.
It would be recalled that the then Victor Jumbo faction of the State Assembly had earlier declared Ehie’s seat vacant following his resignation.
However, the Supreme Court later ruled that the Oko-Jumbo-led Assembly was illegal. This development implied that Ehie remains a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
According to a political scientist, Dr. Paul Madu who spoke to Tentacle, for Ehie’s resignation to be valid, he would have to submit a fresh letter to the Assembly under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule, which would then be transmitted to INEC for the conduct of a bye-election in Ahoada East Constituency II.
For those in Wike’s camp, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), since Ehie is still regarded as a member of Rivers State House of Assembly, he cannot again remain the Chief of Staff, Government House.
But Hon. Nengi John Tamuno disagreed, according to him, Chief (Hon.) Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff, was appointed by the president while he was still serving as a member of the House of Representatives, his position is still vacant.
“So, it’s no news to have the governor appoint a serving member of the State Assembly as Chief of Staff or reappoint Hon. Ehie Edison to continue his duty as Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt.
“In a nutshell, the Governor, Sim Fubara has the full prerogative and constitutional power and right to appoint Hon. Edison Ehie as his Chief of Staff without seeking any approval from anybody”, said Nengi Tamuno
An ardent supporter of Governor Fubara, Emeka Mba in his own reaction said: “This is another moment to remind any birds and children of hate that the office of Chief of Staff does not require Assembly screening, as they have ignorantly and daftly speculated”, said Mba.
He commended the Governor for holding valedictory session for his commissioners who were not screened initially by the Martins Amaewhule led Assembly. “By that singular action, he demonstrated his deep respect and regard to those men and women who stood firm and served him in his crisis moments”.
He went further to say, “That’s what really leaders do, he didn’t just push or shove them aside through mere announcements of dissolution, as expected by naysayers, he rather honoured them with valedictory session. That is strong leadership”.
Fubara dissolved the Board set up by the immediate past Sole Administrator of the State, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, during the six months period of emergency rule in the state.
Governor Fubara on Friday, October 3, 2025 announced the dissolution of the Board and the immediate appointment of Pastor Jonathan Tobin as the Acting Managing Director of the Agency.
The Board of the Rivers State Microfinance Agency is the second Board inaugurated by Ibas, to be sacked by the Governor Fubara in an interval of one week, after dissolving the State’s Pension Board last Friday, September 26, 2025.
Fubara disclosed his decision to dissolve the Board of the State’s Microfinance Agency in a public announcement on Friday evening, signed by the State’s Head of Service, Dr. Mrs Inyingi Brown.
The Governor directed members of the sacked Board to immediately hand over all properties and assets of the Board in their possession to the Acting Managing Director of the Agency, Pastor Tobin.
The Head of Service, Mrs. Brown in the announcement noted that the governor would later reconstitute a new Board.
In another development, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, same Friday, October 3, 2025, also swore in Mr. Austin Ezekiel Hart as a Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service.
The Governor, in a brief swearing-in ceremony at the Government House, Port Harcourt, charged the newly sworn-in Permanent Secretary to remain unwavering in professionalism, uphold the values of the civil service, and shun any act of illegality in the discharge of his responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to due process and integrity, stressing that the civil service must remain the backbone of good governance.
Reflecting on past challenges during the period of emergency rule, the Governor lamented that some Permanent Secretaries failed in their responsibility to safeguard due process and instead engaged in actions that undermined the principles of the service.
He warned that such conduct was unacceptable and that erring officials would ultimately be held accountable.
Political analysts have interpreted Fubara’s bold moves as a huge challenge to Wike and President Tinubu which they said are commendable as a way of entrenching himself as the executive governor of Rivers State.
