Rivers State Governor in Southern Nigeria, Nyesom Wike on Thursday dissolved the Rivers State Executive Council and expressed profound gratitude to the cabinet members for their services to the government and the state.
Governor Wike announced the dissolution after the State Executive Council special valedictory session held in Port Harcourt.
The Governor in a statement directed all the commissioners to hand over government property in their custody to the permanent secretary or most senior director in their respective ministries.
He commended members of the cabinet for their immense sacrifices, commitment and dedication to service which was responsible for the tremendous transformation in the state for the past eight years.
He stated that those who served as cabinet members could confidently return home with their shoulders high having successfully changed the narrative of governance in the country.
“Be happy to say, yes, I participated when they said Rivers State became one of the leading states in this country; when they said there was infrastructure revolution in the state,” he said.
Wike described the immediate past administration before his administration as callous and vicious for looting state assets and not formally handing them over to his government.
He, however, thanked God for the privilege that he would be successfully handing over to the incoming Governor, Mr Siminialayi Fubara.
The governor implored the cabinet members to conscientiously pray for the success of the incoming administration.
According to him, all we need is to pray for the incoming government, and support them, where he finds it necessary to be part of his cabinet, do not disappoint us by saying no.
In her remarks, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, the Deputy Governor of Rivers, thanked the governor for availing the privilege to be the first female Deputy Governor to serve the state since its creation in 1967.
She stated that history would remember Governor Wike for his gender-sensitive policy which also paved the way for another woman, Prof. Ngozi Odu, as her successor.
NAN
