Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday inaugurated a 210-member committee to plan the swearing-in of the state governor-elect, Siminalayr Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The governor also announced the dissolution of the Consolidation for New Vision Campaign Council, the campaign machinery of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Speaking during the inauguration at Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike charged members of the committee to discharge their duties as service to the state.
He stated that the committee members were to serve in a manner that would make the state proud as they plan out the various activities.
The governor listed some of the activities to include the identifying projects that should either be flagged off or inaugurated, public lectures, inauguration dinner and an inauguration ceremony on May 29.
Wike explained that because it is a Rivers State affair, members were drawn not only from one political party but from several parties, civil society, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and representatives of other groups.
He added: “This is not a party affair. It is a Rivers State affair. So, the committee is made up of all shades of opinion. In fact, our state has the largest number of such committees bearing in mind how our state is.
“Inauguration committee is just to prepare the swearing in of the governor and deputy governor-elect. It is not because you are a member of the inauguration committee that it is automatic that you must serve in the cabinet.”
The governor reiterated the need for people to use opportunities that they may have either to serve or lead at any level to give their best service without necessarily thinking that it is an opportunity to make money.
He told them that, eventually, some of them may be designated to work at a subcommittee level in order to achieve better coordination of the outlined activities.
Wike said: “How well yoy performed in relation to achieving hitch free inauguration will count in their favour and they should not disappoint the State.
The governor used the occasion to announce the dissolution of the Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because the elections are over.
He thanked the director general of the campaign council, Felix Obuah and members of his team for their collective efforts that gave the party 98 percent electoral victory in the 2023 general elections in the state.
Wike also said the state would be the first to host president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on a two-day working visit.
The governor announced the involvement of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state in the special committee set on the planned visit of the president-elect.
Responding, chairman of the inauguration committee and secretary to the Rivers State government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, said it was an auspicious privilege for them to be chosen to plan and execute activities that would usher in the new administration.
Danagogo stated that their selection was indeed a clarion call to serve and justify the trust reposed in them.
He assured that they would stand to work with the incoming administration as one united political family.
