BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – In what many have described as a deft political move ahead of the 2023 general elections, Governor Nyesom Wike has appointed 14,359 new aides in Rivers State.
According to statement released in Port Harcourt, the State capital on Tuesday, a breakdown of the governor’s appointees indicates that 14,000 (fourteen thousand) of them are of advisers status for various political units across the State.
The statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri said the advisers are expected to play a pivotal role in the administration as it heads towards the finishing line on May 29, 2023.
Offering further insights on the appointments, Ebiri said; “In addition to the 14,000 advisers, Governor Wike has also appointed 319 Ward Liaison Officers and 40 Local Government Area Liaison Officers. The appointments are with immediate effect.”
Meanwhile, competent insiders hinted that the governor’s latest moves is part of the strategic plan to stay ahead of his political opponents and those considered Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s ‘dissidents’ as the battle for the soul of Rivers State rages ahead of next year’s polls.
The development is coming against the backdrop of the Rivers State Chief Executive and his group’s running battle with the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu over some contentious issues within the nation’s main opposition party that are yet to be resolved.
Forefront reliably learnt that the appointees, already tagged by political commentators as ‘Wike Foot Soldiers’, are to be given induction and instructions soon on their specific job delivery with the elections fast approaching.
