In what could be described as massive waste of scarce resources, the Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, has appointed 130 special assistants.

Ihunwo, who announced the appointments in a post on X on Wednesday, saying the appointment takes immediate effect.

Some of the appointees are Helen Nyekwere, Josephine Wogu, Daisy Worgu, Wagwu Hilda, Ogbonna Stella, Goodness Ogbonna, and Grace Amadi.

He said the new appointees “must serve diligently”.

“I have appointed the following persons as my Special Assistants,” he said. “I congratulate them, and call on them to serve diligently, in the interest of Obio/Akpor local government. Their appointments takes immediate effect.”

This is the second time he would appoint over 100 aides.

I expressed my gratitude to the esteemed leadership of ward six in Obio/Akpor local government for their unwavering support. Their solidarity visit to me at the Council Secretariat was a testament to their commitment to standing by me. It was a moment of deep appreciation as I… pic.twitter.com/H6Heu4VaSE

— Chijioke Ihunwo (@AmbChijioke) January 4, 2025

In July 2024, when he was caretaker committee chairman of the LGA, Ihunwo appointed 100 special assistants.

Ihunwo, an ally of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, yanked the name of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, off the administrative block of the council secretariat.

Wike and Fubara are political foes who have been locked in a supremacy battle in the state.

…ask them from talking from both sides of their mouths

The Rivers State Elders Council has called on individuals igniting the ongoing tensions between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili, to stop immediately.

This cautions came in response to recent remarks by a group of ‘Concerned Elders,’ led by former Governor Sir Celestine Omehia, who demanded that Wike apologise to Odili over political disagreements.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, signed by Ferdinand Alabraba, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Senator Magnus Abe, and 42 other prominent elders, the council described the remarks by the Concerned Elders as “immature” and lacking in substance.

They accused the group of previously supporting Wike but now aligning themselves with Governor Siminalayi Fubara for personal interests.

The council also noted that despite Dr. Odili’s involvement in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has refrained from making any negative statements about him out of respect. “Despite Dr. Odili’s active role in the current Rivers State crisis, Chief Nyesom Wike has never made any negative remarks against him, because of the respect he has for Odili,” the statement emphasized.

However, the elders condemned Dr. Odili’s remarks at a Christmas service, where he reportedly accused Wike of trying to dominate Rivers State for personal control. They described such statements as unbecoming of a senior statesman and inappropriate.

“We consider it unfortunate that the comments came from elders who lacked the courage to let the public know what prompted the remarks by Nyesom Wike,” the council stated. “Did Dr. Odili deserve respect in return for being deliberately disrespectful to the Minister of the FCT? The answer is no.”

The elders advised Dr. Odili to show more restraint in his public comments, accusing him of seeking personal advantages by aligning with Governor Fubara. “We advise Dr. Peter Odili and his cohorts to kindly leave Chief Nyesom Wike alone, while they continue with their exploitative manipulations of the Governor of Rivers State, their new benefactor,” the statement concluded.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership crisis escalting as Sunday Ude-Okoye and Senator Sam Anyanwu continue to lay claim to the position of National Secretary.

Naijablitznews learnt that the situation has created divisions within the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and Board of Trustees (BoT), threatening to destabilize the opposition party as its national secretariat reopens after the Yuletide break.

Sunday Ude-Okoye, recently declared the National Secretary by the Court of Appeal in Enugu, has gained the backing of several NWC members and BoT leaders. However, Senator Anyanwu insists he remains the legitimate officeholder, citing his pending appeal at the Supreme Court to uphold the status quo.

“I remain the National Secretary. The status quo is intact because my appeal is ongoing,” Anyanwu told Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, dismissing Ude-Okoye’s authority to assume the position.

The Court of Appeal ruled in favor of Ude-Okoye, affirming his nomination by the PDP’s South East Zone as Anyanwu’s replacement following the latter’s resignation to contest the Imo State governorship election.

After his electoral defeat, Anyanwu returned to reclaim the position, arguing that the office was never vacant.

Ude-Okoye, however, asserts that his nomination and the court’s ruling confirm his legitimacy. His presence at the party’s Wadata Plaza secretariat during the holidays signals his intent to assume full office control.

The conflict has raised concerns about the PDP’s adherence to its constitution and internal governance. Senator Anyanwu argues that the Court of Appeal overstepped by intervening in what he views as internal party matters. He also accuses Ude-Okoye of bypassing the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms, a violation of PDP rules.

Additionally, Anyanwu questioned the jurisdiction of the judiciary in resolving leadership disputes within political parties, maintaining that such matters are not justiciable.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, confirmed the party’s receipt of the Appeal Court ruling on December 24, 2024, and reiterated the party’s commitment to the rule of law.

“As a law-abiding party, we respect judicial pronouncements and will uphold this culture,” Ologunagba stated.

As the PDP secretariat reopens, both factions are expected to take steps to strengthen their claims. While Ude-Okoye’s supporters are preparing for his formal assumption of office, Anyanwu’s camp remains resolute in defending his position.