The appointees are Head of Service, Barrister Rufus Godwins; Special Adviser on Lands, Anugbum Onuoha; commissioners for chieftaincy affairs, John Bazia; culture and tourism, Mrs Tonye Briggs-Oniyide; finance, Dr Fred Kpakol; and sports, Boma Iyaye.
The recall of the political appointees was conveyed in a statement, Friday, by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu.
This is the second time Dr Fred Kpakol, has been suspended and subsequently recalled.
The governor had August 31, taken the action in connected with that day's weekly Executive Council meeting, which the officials attended late.
The executive meeting had been slated to commence at 6.am, and it was learnt that the political appointees came behind schedule when the governor was already seated.
It was learnt that what angered the governor more was that despite a notice having been sent out ahead of time, some of the commissioners got into the Executive Council Chambers behind time.
Even those who came early were caught off-guard, while chatting outside when the governor came in.
The governor was miffed with what appeared as complacency from the affected officials who were supposed to be seated, at least, 30 minutes before he comes in.
The governor, who was visibly angry when they broke protocols by coming in when he had already sat down for deliberations, directed the Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Kobani, to suspend them in order to send strong warning to others.
A Government House insider said that, “the governor is a stickler to time and punctuality, and if he discovers any sign of laxity, it puts him off".
It would be recalled that this is not the first time the governor is suspending members of the state executive.
First week of February, 2016, he suspended the Commissioner for Finance, Dr Fred Kpakol, and later reinstated him a week after on Valentine's Day.
Shortly after in March, 2016, he suspended Commissioner for Works, Engineer Kelvin Wachukwu, over failure to monitor ongoing road projects, and later sacked him for non-performance.
Sometime in July, after an unscheduled inspection visit to ongoing construction work at Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Wike summoned his Commissioner for Education, Prof Kaniye Ebeku, to appear in his office, to explain why the slow pace of work on the school’s renovation and rehabilitation projects.
The governor had sworn-in the first set of commissioners in June, 2015, advising them to ensure that his administration fulfils its promise of delivering quality service and good governance to the people in line with its NEW Vision for Rivers State.
While swearing-in the last set of commissioners last December, he warned that at no time would his administration tolerate non-performance from any of the political appointees.
Wike had reminded them that Rivers people expect and deserve nothing less than spectacular performance from the commissioners and special advisers.
He also said, “Any of you that are here to make money at the expense of service will be disappointed. Do not assault public sensibilities with ostentatious lifestyle that you cannot defend,” threatening to axe anyone found to have failed to keep the course of the administration or whose action or inaction sends the wrong signal to the people of the state on the genuine policies and programmes of the government.
He had said: “We hope and pray that you do not disappoint because to whom much is given, much is expected. Your duty is to serve public interest, and accountability is a sacred contract with the people of Rivers State.”
See the four commissioners and special adviser
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