Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State fires commissioner, announces replacement

Wike swears-in new commissioner for work

Reveals why the immediate past commissioner was fired under six months after his appointment

Kelvin Wachuku, the commissioner for Works in Rivers state has been fired by Governor Nyesom Wike for allegedly working at his own pace rather than that of the governor.

The governor said he has the mandate of his people to speed up development and anyone who must work with him must meet his speed.

Wachuku was fired just six months after he was appointed and in his place, Wike has appointed Bethel Iheanyichuku who had been screened by the Rivers state House of Assembly as a commissioner-designate and approved as a commissioner-in-waiting. 

Wike, who swore Iheanyichuku, an indigene of Ogbogoro in Obio-Akpor local government area of the state, into office, said Wachuku was lazy and could not measure up.

He also warned the new commissioner to be ready to measure up to his speed and avoid complacency while his administration works to develop Rivers state.

According to Wike, who was quoted by Daily Post: “I have a covenant with the people of Rivers State to develop this state. And anybody that is going to work with me must work at my speed and not at your own speed.”

The governor added: “Nobody should come and drag me back like the former Commissioner. If you are handling any project, you should be the one to brief me and not me briefing you.”

In a sad development, separate cult clashes in Idoha and Ulapata communities in Ahoada-east local government area of the state have claimed the lives of at least 19 people.

It was reported that suspected Iceland and Greenlanders cult groups clashes in the communities have led to various changes in the community.

A ruler in the communities set up the vigilante group called Isakaba boys to check the activities of the cult gangs in the area.

Report by Eromosele Ebhomele