Supreme Court ruling: Wike’s appointees afraid of sack

Fear of sack has gripped some political appointees of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike following their alleged romance with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

With campaigns for legislature rerun elections slated for March 19, the Wike government is said to have pencilled down appointees for sack for their alleged double dealing.

Sources said in Port Harcourt yesterday that some appointees had allegedly met with the leadership of the state’s APC and discussed the possibility of defecting from the PDP.

They were, however, advised to maintain their positions pending the Supreme Court judgment, with the expectation that Wike’s  election would be nullified.

But the governor’s suspension of the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Fred Kpakol, and the Accountant General, Sir Abere Dagogo, and their recall sent panic among those who tried to dump the governor.

The source said some intending defectors were being monitored. It was also said the leadership of the party pretended  it did not know what was happening by resolving not to confront them not to create the impression that the Supreme Court judgment would not favour the governor.

Said the source: ”If they were confronted then, the APC would have made it a big issue, and their supporters  would have equally followed their leaders to the APC. It was clear they were bidding their time, but now that they were disappointed by the Supreme Court, they will not go unpunished.”

Wike has lifted the suspension  of Dr Kpakol and  Sir Dagogo.

Addressing public servants and political  leaders during  a Special Valentine Couples’ Night,  organised by his wife, Justice  Eberechi Suzzette, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike  said  the suspension  was lifted in deference  to the interventions  by different  leaders and as a show of love on Valentine.

Wike  urged  the appointees to differentiate between friendship and governance  in  their functions.

He said: “Governance  is a serious  business. It is not friendship.  When it comes to governance I won’t acknowledge friendship.

“I will lift the suspension on the Finance commissioner and the accountant-general, but they must henceforth  take  their functions  seriously.  Next time, I will not take into consideration  the pleas of political  stakeholders”.

He advised political  appointees to take their responsibilities  serious  as his administration  must succeed in the delivery  of  projects.

Source