Chidi Amadi, Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has tendered his resignation amidst the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
The announcement was confirmed by Joseph Johnson, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Governor Fubara is expected to name a replacement for Amadi in due course. Johnson emphasized that the timing of the appointment is at the discretion of the governor, asserting, “It is the constitutional right of the governor to appoint when he wants it.”
Amadi, a known loyalist of ex-governor Nyesom Wike, hails from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. His departure marks the tenth resignation of Wike’s loyalists from Fubara’s administration since the onset of the political discord between Fubara and his estranged political godfather.
There have been calls for Fubara to appoint Edison Ehie, a former factional Speaker of the state House of Assembly, as the new Chief of Staff. The Ijaw Youth Council, Worldwide, urged Fubara to consider Ehie for the position, citing his support during a plot by 27 lawmakers loyal to ex-governor Wike to impeach Fubara.
The political turmoil escalated when Fubara presented the 2024 budget to a faction led by Ehie, bypassing the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers. However, following intervention from President Bola Tinubu, Fubara was directed to recognize the pro-Wike lawmakers and return the budget to them for passage.
Ehie resigned from the House of Assembly weeks later, contributing to what Fubara described as a calculated move to facilitate peace amid the political crisis.
Recent developments include a call by the Amaewhue-led Assembly for Fubara to present the 2024 budget afresh, stating that the state is currently being run without a budget.
As of Wednesday, Governor Fubara has not commented on the Assembly’s request, raising concerns about a potential escalation of the crisis in the state. The situation remains fluid, with no official response from state government officials.
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