Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has sacked the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse, the Paramount Ruler of Emohua Kingdom, over his refusal to include the governor’s pictures as well as that of his deputy in the 2024 calendar.
In his place, the governor appointed Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, the Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom to lead the council.
The Governor accused Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse who was appointed by his political enemy and predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who’s the FCT minister of disloyalty and owing his loyalty to Wike.
The governor said the council experienced a period of inactivity and ineffective leadership under the previous chairman, Eze Awuse in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi.
He noted that with the announcement, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo is now tasked with leading the council and fulfilling its responsibilities.
On Friday, Governor Fubara convened a special meeting with members of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Port Harcourt, where he made the announcement appointing Eze Chike Worlu Wodo as the new Chairman of the council.
The Governor announced the appointment of Eze Chike Worlu Wodo as the new Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, simultaneously terminating the appointment of Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse.
Eze Awuse’s tenure, which lasted for one year, was marked by his inability to effectively lead the council and foster harmonious relationships among its members and with the State Government, leading to his removal.
The Governor criticised the tenure of Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse, highlighting that under his leadership, the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers failed to include the photographs of the Governor and Deputy Governor in the 2024 calendar, despite including other government officials.
The Governor viewed the omission as a deliberate slight and an insult to the State Government, hence the need for new leadership in the council.
He noted that such a posture, among others, clearly demonstrated that the council under that kind of leadership had not, and would never live up to expectations.
He said, “I want the council to live up to its responsibility. From my observation, the council is moribund. So, I can feel that the council, for a while now, has been very inactive. Inactive because, maybe, the chairman has decided not to be responsible as a chairman. I think that is the best way to describe it.
“I am not talking about other things that have been happening. But I feel there are responsibilities of the chairman, and so far, I have not felt it and you can also attest to that, that you are not seeing that leadership that you expect.
“I would like to draw your attention to a special insult that was meted to this government. The council produced a calendar for the year of our Lord 2024, and the Governor’s picture, and the Deputy Governor’s picture are not in the calendar.
“I want to ask you: does it show any sign that that leadership is working with this government? I hope you have a copy of it? Does it show that your chairman is working with this government?
“So, I have decided today, we have to move forward. By the special grace of God, the administrative life-span of the chairman is one year, which is renewable. So, at this particular time, I have to say that with the power vested on me, I announce that the tenure of Chief Sergeant Awuse has been terminated.”
Governor Fubara said at such a critical time of his administration, when peace is cardinal with traditional rulers, who are closer to the people, not properly coordinated, it will be difficult to achieve the required harmony and coexistence among the people.
The Governor pointed out that there was a need to have a more competent and diligent traditional ruler with the presence of mind, and ability to carry everybody along, stressing that Eze Chike Worlu Wodo most appropriately fits into that cap, with a fatherly personality, mature character, integrity and pedigree.
Governor Fubara clarified that Eze Apara Kingdom can also access every traditional ruler, elicit their cooperation and be able to provide the needed direction that the council dearly needed.
“So, going forward, there is a need to have a leadership that will accommodate everybody and move this council forward.
“Let me, before saying other things, announce here that the new chairman from this particular moment will be Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, Eze Ohna Apara, Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom. He will be the chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, and I strongly believe that he is going to do better and accommodate everyone.”
Governor Fubara said: “Traditional Rulers are the closest to our locals. If you want peace in the community, we must work with the traditional rulers. And our government is a government that pays serious priority to peace. So, I want everyone of you to ensure that we maintain peace in our localities.
“Let me request from our new chairman that: please, as we leave here, there is every need for you to call for a meeting immediately and commence the process of uniting the council.”
Governor Fubara recalled how a former governor in the State had sternly warned a traditional ruler in Ahoada East Local Government Area during a public event but added that he would not take that route.
