Eze Chidi Awuse, a traditional ruler, has been removed as the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.
The decision was reached by the governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara.
The monarch was removed following allegations of inactivity and the absence of effective leadership of the council under him.
Governor Fubara made the announcement when he met with members of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Awuse, an ally of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was replaced by the traditional ruler of Apara Kingdom, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo.
Wodo is the current Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
The deposed traditional council ruler, Eze Awuse, was accused of producing a calendar for the year 2024, “deliberately refusing to include the photographs of the Governor and the Deputy Governor.”
Governor Fubara stated, “I want the council to live up to its responsibility. From my observation, the council is moribund. So, I can feel that the council, for a while now, has been very inactive. Inactive because the chairman has decided not to be responsible as a chairman. I think that is the best way to describe it.
“I am not talking about other things that have been happening. But I feel there are responsibilities of the chairman, and so far, I have not felt it and you can also attest to that, that you are not seeing that leadership that you expect.
“I would like to draw your attention to a special insult that was meted to this government. The council produced a calendar for the year of our Lord 2024, and the Governor’s picture, and the Deputy Governor’s picture are not in the calendar.
“I want to ask you: does it show any sign that leadership is working with this government? I hope you have a copy of it? Does it show that your chairman is working with this government? So, I have decided today, we have to move forward. By the special grace of God, the administrative life-span of the chairman is one year, which is renewable. So, at this particular time, I have to say that with the power vested in me, I announce that the tenure of Chief Sergeant Awuse has been terminated.
“Let me, before saying other things, announce here that the new chairman from this particular moment will be Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, Eze Ohna Apara, Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom. He will be the chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, and I believe strongly that he is going to do better and accommodate everyone,” he stated.
There has been political tension in Rivers state as the power tussle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, deepens.
