Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has issued a sharp and unambiguous warning to his newly appointed Chief of Staff, Sunny Ewule, threatening to terminate his appointment if he is found attending any political meeting without prior authorisation from the governor himself.
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara drew a firm line on Thursday as he swore in two new senior officials into his administration, making clear that loyalty, discipline, and strict adherence to protocol will define the culture of his government house going forward.
The governor, speaking during the inauguration ceremony held at the executive council chamber of the Government House in Port Harcourt, swore in Dogogo Wokoma as the new Secretary to the State Government and Sunny Ewule as the Chief of Staff to the Government House. What should have been a routine ceremony of congratulations and goodwill quickly took on a more serious tone as Fubara delivered pointed directives that left little room for ambiguity.
Addressing Ewule specifically, Governor Fubara was blunt in his expectations. He warned the new Chief of Staff that his appointment would not shield him from consequences if he were found to be engaging in political activities or attending political meetings without the express knowledge and approval of the governor.
Fubara made it clear that his administration operates on a clear chain of command, and that no official — regardless of the seniority of their title — holds the authority to make political decisions or movements on behalf of the government without direct authorisation. The governor indicated that such behaviour would not be treated as a minor infraction but as a dismissible offence.
The warning is widely seen as a reflection of Governor Fubara's intent to exercise tight personal control over the political affairs of his government, particularly at a time when Rivers State continues to navigate a complex political landscape marked by internal party tensions and external pressure.
Fubara's warning did not come in a vacuum. Rivers State has experienced significant political turbulence in recent months, with the governor facing sustained opposition and factional disputes that have tested the cohesion of his administration. Against this backdrop, the governor's insistence on controlling all political communications and meetings through his office signals a deliberate effort to prevent his officials from becoming entangled in, or exploited by, rival political interests.
By publicly issuing this warning at the swearing-in ceremony itself — before Ewule had even spent a single day in office — Fubara sent a message not just to his new Chief of Staff but to the entire government apparatus: that the administration will not tolerate political freelancing by any of its members.
Peace and Prosperity as Guiding Principles
Beyond the warning, Governor Fubara used the occasion to articulate the broader values he expects to animate his administration. He emphasised his deep desire to ensure the peace and prosperity of Rivers State, framing the appointments as part of a larger commitment to building a government that is both effective and accountable.
The governor made it known that the officials he is bringing into his government are expected to subordinate personal ambition to the collective goal of advancing the welfare of Rivers people. He portrayed the swearing-in not merely as the conferment of titles and privileges, but as the acceptance of a serious responsibility to serve the public with diligence and integrity.
Turning his attention to the newly sworn-in Secretary to the State Government, Dogogo Wokoma, Governor Fubara delivered a charge that was both encouraging and purposeful. Recognising Wokoma's background in academia, the governor urged him to leverage his scholarly experience and intellectual rigour in service of the administration.
Fubara expressed confidence that Wokoma's wealth of experience — drawn from years in the academic world — could serve as a valuable asset in shaping policy, improving governance processes, and bringing a more analytical and evidence-based approach to the running of state affairs. He called on the new SSG to hit the ground running and to bring fresh ideas and best practices into the machinery of government.
The appointment of an academic to the position of Secretary to the State Government is seen by many observers as a deliberate move by the governor to bring technocratic expertise into the inner circle of his administration. The SSG occupies one of the most critical positions in any state government, coordinating the activities of the civil service and serving as the administrative backbone of the executive branch.
In another notable moment during the ceremony, Governor Fubara reminded Permanent Secretaries who are due for retirement to begin preparing their handover notes without delay. This directive, though brief, carried significant administrative weight, as it signals the governor's intention to ensure a smooth and orderly transition of responsibilities across the state's civil service.
Handover notes are a critical part of institutional memory in any government system. They ensure continuity of operations, preserve institutional knowledge, and prevent the disruption that often follows sudden or poorly managed transitions. By publicly calling on retiring Permanent Secretaries to take this process seriously, the governor underscored his administration's commitment to professionalism and orderliness within the civil service.
Thursday's ceremony offered a revealing glimpse into the governing style of Siminalayi Fubara. The governor is clearly not one to let important moments pass without using them to communicate broader expectations. His decision to issue such a pointed warning at what was essentially a celebratory occasion suggests a leader who is acutely aware of the political risks that surround him and determined to manage them proactively.
His approach reflects a recognition that political appointees — especially those occupying powerful positions like Chief of Staff — can become nodes of political intrigue if not properly guided and held accountable. By making the rules unmistakably clear from day one, Fubara aims to forestall problems before they arise, rather than dealing with them after the damage has been done.
Political analysts in the state will likely view the governor's remarks as a continuation of his broader effort to stabilise Rivers State's political environment and consolidate authority within his office at a time when the state remains one of Nigeria's most politically charged arenas.
Both Sunny Ewule and Dogogo Wokoma now assume their roles with a clear understanding of what the governor expects. For Ewule, the Chief of Staff role comes with the full weight of the governor's trust — and, as Thursday's ceremony made plain, with equally firm expectations of strict professional and political discipline.
For Wokoma, the challenge is to translate academic excellence into practical governance — to be not just a scholar in title but a reformer in action, capable of navigating the complex bureaucratic terrain of a state as large and dynamic as Rivers.
As the governor continues to build and reshape his team, Thursday's swearing-in ceremony served as a public declaration of the values and standards he intends to hold his administration to: peace above politics, service above self, and accountability at every level of government.
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Rivers politics