Surge in number of political appointees in Rivers leads to panic in political circles

Surge in number of political appointees in Rivers leads to panic in political circles 

…As PDP drafts elder statesmen into committee to meet Wike, others

Fear has gripped political opponents of Governor Nyesom Wike in and outside Rivers State as his administration makes critical political appointments that are bound to impact heavily on the politics played in the State and the nation.

The appointment of more than 40,000 political office holders in the past few days, some observers disclose, has sent warning signals to leaders of other political parties in the State.

At the national level, the significance of these appointments which may be replicated in other states where Governors are at war with the Atiku gang has not been lost on the PDP.

The presidential flag-bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who is currently shopping for elder statesmen that would meet with Governor Wike and his supporters to resolve the deadlock in the PDP has purportedly put a halt to his campaign effort in the North East.

Although Dele Mommodu, a member of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, is denying that the PDP has not suspended its campaign because of Wike, there are strong indications within the party that its leaders are worried stiff.

Among those whose names are being linked to the committee of ‘wise men’ whose intervention is needed are a former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili and his Delta State counterpart, James Ibori.

Within political circles, the deft move made by the Governor in unleashing an army of political appointees shortly after the ban on campaigns was lifted by INEC is stirring a lot of conversation.

In commercial vehicles, public pubs, hallways and even homes in Rivers State, people say the volume of appointments that are coming out of Government House, Port Harcourt, is likely to cause a political tsunami.

Tuesday, Governor Nyesom Wike announced the appointment of 14,000 advisers as well as 359 Liaison Officers.

A breakdown of the figures show that 40 Liaison Officers are responsible for government activities in the various Local Government Areas while 319 others are in charge of activities at the Ward level.

Wednesday, the Governor struck again.This time, his Media Assistant, Kelvin Ebiri announced the appointment of 28,000 special assistants to the Governor.

Recall that the schedule of duty of the14,000 advisers who were appointed Tuesday would include delivering services at the political unit level.

Kelvin Ebiri who announced the appointments did not specifically say what their role would be.

But he noted however that the appointees would be engaged actively in administration.

There have been reactions from civil society groups that some persons allege may  have close ties with the APC in Rivers.

The Chairman of Civil Society Organization in Rivers state, Enefa Georgewill who is one of the voices that are uncomfortable with Wike’s action described the appointments as ‘a waste of tax payers’ money.

He may have his say but experienced politicians who have been forced to return to the drawing board are seeing beyond Georgewill’s point of view.

The Port Harcourt Telegraph reports that big political actors who are used to politics played around ‘big men’ may be alarmed by the amount of energy these young appointees will bring to the table.

Sources say these big players realise that Wike is gradually turning the PDP into an unsinkable ship, and the grassroots, into no-go-areas for Abuja based politicians.

At stake, no doubt, is the more than 3,000,000 votes in Rivers State that are up for grabs.

The Wike administration has performed creditably and the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to honour him, has sent appropriate messages to doubting Thomas’.

Buhari is honoring Wike for breakthroughs in the provision of infrastructure, health facilities and strides in agriculture among others.

With more than 42,000 political appointees and other political volunteers working at the grassroots, a source asked, “how can any other political party in the State overrun the PDP?”

While some members of the political class think it is the Governor’s way of fulfilling his promise to guarantee the ‘stomach infrastructure’ of numerous supporters, others are saying this may be part of an ingenious political strategy introduced by the Governor.

Speaking to stakeholders at Government House recently Wike promised to come out with something new on the road to 2023.

Strangely, the PDP which the other day commenced its campaign without Wike and his supporters have suddenly turned urgent attention to wooing the Rivers Governor.

“Getting Wike to return to the fold is more important than dashing to Zamfara, Kebbi and Bornu” an insider told this publication, “We simply need Wike and the other governors who are with him.”

Wike is reportedly popular in the North East where Atiku is expected to flag off his campaign soon.

Senator Iyorchia Ayu, embattled Chairman of the PDP who is at the centre of the storm within the party had expressed  surprise when Atiku’s team touched down in Bauchi.

He said he had expected to see an empty stadium, thus suggesting that the team was rather apprehensive about what to expect on arrival.

However, the experience in Uyo which has been the subject of discussion is something Atiku’s vociferous supporters have not forgotten in a hurry.

They have eventually come to the conclusion that running without five Governors may prove suicidal.

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation who is in charge of new media in the campaign of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu claimed in a post that some of the people who stormed the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo were chanting “Obi, Obi, Obi!”

Addressing a gathering of South South leaders, the Acting Chairman of the BoT of the PDP, Senator Adolphus Wabara urged PDP Governors in the geopolitical region to go and bring back Wike.

That may be a tall order for Governors who betrayed their colleague and betrayed Southern interests, but Atiku who knows where the shoe pinches is no longer at ease with cheerleaders in the party who may return to Abuja with little or no votes, according to a PDP Senator, Chimaroke Nnamani.