Amaechi Shocks Commissioners, Dissolves Cabinet
Bolaji Ogundele, Port Harcourt - 06.06.2009

IN an action that shocked many, in cluding close aides, Rivers State governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi on Friday night announced the dissolution of the state executive council.

Secretary to Rivers State Government, Mr. Magnus Abe, in a statement announcing the dissolution, said the action was with immediate effect.

The statement thanked the former commissioners for their services and contributions to Rivers State while they were in office. The sacked commissioners, the statement further explained, were advised to hand over to their permanent secretaries, and wished them many more successes in their future engagements.

Reasons for the dissolution were unknown, but a source told Saturday Tribune yesterday that it might not be far from getting rid of underperforming commissioners. One of the commissioners had earlier been sacked by the governor.

The source hinted that the governor took the action after returning from a tour of some ongoing project sites in the state on Friday night, saying, however, that some of the hardworking ones would be retained.

The unity government in the state was assembled three months ago, in which 19 commissioners that included two members of the opposition took oath of office.

Saturday Tribune gathered that in a bid to stem corruption, Governor Amaechi stopped the award of contracts by commissioners, saying that henceforth, such awards would pass through the state executive council.

Amaechi made it clear that he would not hesitate to sack any officer found indulging in corrupt practices. He said his government took the issue of corruption seriously, adding that “If I smell a rat and I have evidence, I will not fail to discharge my responsibilities.”