PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has removed Engr Chukwuemeka Woke as Managing Director (MD) of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) barely two weeks after his appointment.
Engr Woke was Chief of Staff to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike when he was governor of Rivers State.
Tinubu had appointed him as head of the authority on 9 May 2024.
However, the appointment was greeted with protests as some groups and individuals said it was against the principle of familiarity and regional representation.
Engr. Woke was one of the commissioners who voluntarily resigned as a result of the imbroglio between the former governor and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister and Governor Siminalayi Fubara. However, the peace deal brokered by Mr President gave him and others another opportunity to return to the State Executive Council and were all graciously accepted by the governor. He was to again resign his appointment following his appointment by President Tinubu.
Engr Woke in his letter of resignation shortly after his appointment as OORBDA MD was announced claimed that since rejoining the cabinet of Sir Fubara on the 26th of January, 2024, he had neither been assigned a portfolio nor paid a kobo as salary or allowance by the state government.
In the letter addressed to the governor of the state dated 9th April 2024 (sic), the former Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, later Chief of Staff to then Rivers State governor, Mr Wike, said: “Your Excellency, recall that pursuant to the Presidential Peace Proclamation, you re-nominated me as a Commissioner and the state House of Assembly confirmed me as Commissioner-Designate
“Consequently, the Oath of Office and Allegiance was administered on me by Your Excellency on the 26th of January, 2024. However, I was not assigned any portfolio and no salary or allowance was paid to me.
Meanwhile, in a statement on Wednesday, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesman, announced that Woke had been replaced with Dr. Adedeji Ashiru.
Chief Ngelale said President Tinubu had moved Woke to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) as the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer.
The statement said: “Engr Woke, besides being an engineer, is an environmental specialist and politician. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering and has served under the Environmental, Safety, and Operations Departments of the then Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
“He was Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State and Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, for many years.
“Dr. Ashiru holds a Doctorate degree in Engineering from the Commonwealth University, UK, and has led a consortium of blue-chip companies, in addition to earning many stripes in his professional endeavour.
“The President expects the new Chief Executive Officers to deploy their competencies to these critical agencies for sustainable gains and turnaround while maintaining utmost transparency in their operations.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media