October 14, (THEWILL) — Residents of Rivers State are eagerly awaiting Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s decision on who becomes his Chief of Staff, following the appointment of Barr Benibo Anabraba as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
Governor Fubara, on Monday, swore in Anabraba at the State Government House, in what has been described as a deliberate move by the governor to please the camp of his political godfather and Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
In appointing Anabraba, who is the son of Chief Ferdinand Anabraba, Chairman of Rivers Elders Forum and strong ally of Wike, Fubara sacrificed one of his strongest ally, Dr Tammy Danagogo, a former minister and the immediate past SSG, and regarded as the political maestro of the Fubara administration, especially during the peak of the crisis which started in November 2023 and dragged on to March 18, 2025, when President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state, suspending the governor, his deputy and assembly.
Impeccable sources revealed that Danagogo and Fubara’s Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, are among the officials specifically barred from returning to their previous offices by the Wike camp because of their roles in the crisis.
However, while Fubara has yielded to the pressure of the Wike camp and axed Danagogo, a decision that hasn’t gone down well with many, especially those of the governor’s political family, the defunct Simplified Movement, Rivers people await Fubara’s decision on Ehie, who is regarded as the backbone of the governor’s kitchen cabinet.
THEWILL recalls that Ehie, as then Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly in 2023, reportedly exposed plans by his colleagues to impeach the governor in an early morning sitting in November, sparking the crisis, and thereafter, consumed all political structures of the government.
While the crisis lasted, Ehie emerged as a strong and formidable force due to the large support he enjoys from the majority of youths across the state, a situation the Wike camp is reportedly not comfortable with.
Sources close to the government said there is immense pressure on Fubara to axe Ehie to pave the way for a supposedly neutral person or preferably an appointee from the Wike camp to be appointed as the new Chief of Staff to further cement their control of the Fubara’s government.
The source, who craved anonymity as he wasn’t authorised to speak on the matter, said Fubara risks losing the trust of the people and those who fought alongside him during the crisis if he yields to the pressure to sack Ehie.
“The governor is currently in a state of dilemma concerning the issue; however, if he does accept the proposal, there is the likelihood of him losing his supporters away from him.
“Also, Rivers’ people won’t take him seriously anymore”, the source insists.
Already, many supporters of the governor have been critical of the peace deal entered into with the Wike camp, saying “it is one-sided”. Whether the governor would yield to the pressure being mounted on him by the Wike camp or stick with his trusted ally, Ehie, is a decision eagerly awaited by the Rivers people.
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara, in his charge to Anabraba on Monday, said, “God has brought you in at this particular time to be the Secretary to the Government of Rivers State.
He urged him to guard the office jealously and protect the interests of the state.
“It is a position of honour, so guard that office with honour. Discharge your duties with respect, and protect the interests of Rivers State, so that when you leave office, it will be with honour”, he added.
He urged the newly sworn-in SSG not to use the opportunity to display power or show of force of office, but to see it as a call to duty, adding, “We are just coming out from a very bad situation, so we need to reassure the people of Rivers State that we mean well for them, especially now that peace has returned to the State
“Please, by the grace of God, do your work very well to help us to succeed in this assignment that God Almighty has given to us.”
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
