Mr. Opunabo Inko-Tariah, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike, has resigned from the position.
Tariah, in a resignation letter to the governor on Friday said unfolding developments in the state indicated that his services were no longer needed.
He said that throughout his service as Media Adviser, he did not threaten any journalist or police officer.
“However, with unfolding developments, it is irrefutable that my services are no longer needed.’’
He thanked the governor for giving him the opportunity to serve him and the state as a Special Adviser.
Tariah wished the governor God’s guidance and blessings.
The governor has not responded to Tariah’s resignation.
APC hails uncommon courage in ‘dumping Wike’s sinking ship’
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has described the resignation of the Special Adviser to Governor Nyesom Wike on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah as a sign that the Wike-led government is crumbling.
Opunabo Inko-Tariah in a copy of his resignation letter made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt thanked Governor Wike for giving him the opportunity to serve in his government.
The statement noted that his office was starved of fund throughout the five months he operated as media aide to the governor.
Opunabo Inko-Tariah also said all professional advice given to the governor was not acted on.
Mr Chris Finebone, State Publicity Secretary of APC, said in a statement that the party welcomes Inko-Tariah’s uncommon courage to resign as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Wike.
The APC also said it is not surprising that Governor Wike will not listen to professional advice and will neglect those who work with him as given by Opunabo Inko-Tariah as part of reasons for his resignation.
Finebone accused Governor Nyesom Wike of seizing allocations of the local government councils which has resulted in non-payment of council workers across the state.
APC said the governor’s refusal to constitute a cabinet is to enable him to be the initiator and executor of all projects in the state.
The statement reads, “The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), welcomes the uncommon courage displayed by Mr. Opunabo Inko-Tariah in resigning as the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the embattled governor of Rivers State this morning.
“As a party, APC knew that it was only a matter of time before all well-meaning proud sons and daughters of Rivers State who find themselves in Wike’s sinking ship jumped to safety.
“This is not only because his governorship will soon become history, but because the malevolently unique style of Wike whose hallmark behaviour hinges on divide-and-rule exasperates decent minds.
“We are not surprised that the former SA, Media & Publicity is telling sordid stories of neglect and disrespect for his views and advice by the outgoing governor. These are all well-known character pattern of Nyesom Wike.
“The APC would like to urge all other well-meaning sons and daughters of our dear state who have found themselves, one way or the other, in Wike’s makeshift government to resign and leave immediately.
“At the risk of repeating ourselves, APC would like to state that Nyesom Wike never planned to govern Rivers State; he simply came to do what he is doing now – loot Rivers State’s common wealth for himself.
“He has seized allocations of the Local Government Councils resulting in non-payment of council workers across the state. He has refused to constitute a cabinet, creating room for him to be Commissioner for Works, Project Inspector, Due Process Office and everything rolled into one just to put away the peoples’ money under his pillow and disburse as he likes.
“The APC is in no doubt that many more of our people will soon see the light and take the path of honour just like Opunabo Inko-Tariah has done.”