Rivers State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor and his Finance counterpart, Isaac Kamalu, who rejected their redeployments by the Governor Siminialayi Fubara administration to the Ministries of Special Duties (Government House) and Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, have resigned from the cabinet.
Both are known loyalists of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Tammy Danagogo announced the reshuffle on Tuesday, April 23, in Port Harcourt.
In a letter addressed yesterday to the SSG, Adangor confirmed his resignation from the Rivers State Executive Council.
He claimed that in the last couple of weeks, the governor had interfered with his job.
The correspondence reads in part: “My attention has been drawn to your letter dated April 23, 2024 and widely circulated on social media, whereby I was deployed to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s Office).
“Further to the referenced letter, I hereby give you notice of my rejection of the said deployment and resignation from the Rivers State Executive Council with effect from the 24th day of April, 2024.
“I wish to state for the record, that I am no longer willing to continue to serve in the administration of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, in any capacity whatsoever.”
Adangor continued: “It is important to mention that the Governor of Rivers State had in the past couple of weeks wilfully interfered with the performance of my duties as the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Rivers State by directing me not to defend, oppose or appear in suits instituted against the Honourable Attorney-General and the Government of Rivers State by persons admittedly hired and sponsored by the Government of Rivers State.”
In his resignation letter addressed yesterday to Fubara through the SSG, Kamalu faulted the governor’s claims of N27 billion monthly Internally Generate Revenue (IGR) rise.
In the letter titled ‘Re: Notice of Resignation As Commissioner And Member Of The Rivers State Executive Council’, the ex-finance commissioner said it was difficult to offer good governance in an atmosphere of doubt and bitterness.
While noting that he had given his best to the state from the previous administration where he served as Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning and later Finance helmsman, a position which he also retained under Fubara, Kamalu expressed dismay at the turn of events in the state.
The lengthy statement partly reads: “In the course of official engagements, I have reiterated the need for this peace and the fact we all are willing and determined to work for this.
“It is very difficult to deliver good governance where there is acrimony and discord. It is not the point of service that is important, but the climate.”
“Our present circumstance makes service delivery extremely challenging. I still hold the belief that it is never too late for peace.
“Given the above, I find it difficult to accept the redeployment. I do not accept it. I reject it and convey to you my immediate resignation as Commissioner and member of the Rivers State Executive Council with effect from the date of this letter.”
Public affairs analysts and some residents, who reacted to the situation, held that exiting the cabinet was the best option for the ex-Attorney General, as he had been caught in the political web involving the governor and minister.
They argued that he should have rejected his reappointment as AG, knowing full well that he is loyal to an opposing camp.
Adangor had last December made public his first resignation letter.
In the letter dated November 14, 2023 and addressed to Governor Fubara, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Professor of Law said his resignation was based on “Personal Principles.”
However, following the peace accord initiated by President Bola Tinubu, he was returned as AG.
In his contribution, a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science, University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Obinna Nwodim, said Adangor had been so “quiet and docile in the current political situation in the state, whereas his position as AG is very crucial, particularly with regards to the political and constitutional quagmire in the state.”
Another analyst and erstwhile Special Adviser on Media to Wike, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, insisted that Adangor ought to have declined his reappointment to protect his dignity as a senior lawyer.
A resident, Daniel Afiemie, expressed sympathy for the ex-commissioner, saying he has been in a serious political dilemma.
