Siminalayi Fubara on Thursday read the riot act to the newly appointed Chief of Staff, warning against participation in nocturnal or unauthorised meetings and declaring that any action capable of embarrassing his administration would attract immediate dismissal.
The governor issued the warning shortly after swearing in Dr Dagogo Wokoma as Secretary to the State Government and Sunny Ewule as Chief of Staff at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Administering the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office, the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi, formally inducted the two officials before the governor addressed them.
Fubara described their appointments as a call to service, urging them to discharge their duties with discipline, loyalty and an unwavering commitment to the success of his administration. He stressed that the welfare of Rivers people must remain paramount in all government activities and cautioned that the offices should not be seen as platforms for personal ambition or political grandstanding.
Addressing the new Chief of Staff, the governor emphasised the need for effective coordination of administrative functions and the protection of the image of Government House.
“Let me make it very clear: your duty is to handle administrative duties and image-making roles efficiently. If you involve yourself in nocturnal meetings or similar activities, I will sack you. What matters to me is the peace, progress and prosperity of this state, and I will not compromise on that,” he said.
Fubara also directed permanent secretaries who have reached retirement age to begin preparing their handover notes to ensure orderly transitions within the civil service, while cautioning against financial misconduct or last-minute irregularities.
The governor expressed confidence that the new appointees would justify the trust reposed in them and urged public officials to work in unity for the collective good of Rivers State.
