Another Top Wike Associate Bags FG Appointment
… Shortly after APC’s NWC hands over State party apparatus to the influential Rivers strongman
By Uke N. Uke
President Bola Tinubu gives another Wike strongman, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, an appointment in the Revenue Mobilization and Allocations Commission.
The Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ambassador Desmond Akawor has become the latest high profile member of Wike’s inner circle to secure a federal appointment.
He has been named a Federal Commissioner of a sensitive organisation – the federal Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) – by President Bola Tinubu.
Akawor’s appointment at the federal level after other supporters of Wike across the country are being given strong footholds in the Bola Tinubu administration provides concrete evidence of the growing influence of the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory at the national centrestage.
Frank Owhor, Boma Iyaye, Henry Ogiri and Tony Okocha are among Rivers people who are close to Wike that are engaged by the APC dominated government at the federal level.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike moves Rivers people into the nation’s political mainstream.
Recall that Wike’s loyalist on Wednesday got the greenlight from the APC National Party Secretariat to head a newly set up caretaker team to manage the affairs of the Rivers wing.
Many political watchers are seeing the trend as the gradual integration of the former Rivers Governor and his followers into the mainstream of the APC.
Akawor who is to come face to face with Nigerian senators during screening at the Senate as required by convention is to replace late Aso Wenah.
Until the icy hand of death snatched him, Wenah was the immediate past RMAFC commissioner from Rivers State.
A statement issued Thursday by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale urged Akawor to bring his wealth of experience to the execution of his new task.
Akawor has served the nation as Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Korea; Minister of State of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Sole Administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority; CEO, Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority, and Executive Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (Engineering & Technical Services).
The Commission is responsible for the efficient and productive allocation of resources to the three tiers of government in Nigeria.
Somehow, Wike has kept mum, prefering to work silently behind the scene as he gently navigates Nigeria’s murky political waters infested by blood-thirsty-sharks and venom-spewing-snakes that lay ambush along the path, ready to strike.
Yet, as an observer put it at press time, this may well mean that the master strategist has recoiled, and retired to the drawing board to consider options open to him and update strategies that are likely to turn the tide in his favour when the time comes.