Rivers SSG, Chief of Staff: Why not a woman

With the elections over and several suits at the Tribunals across the Country, with losers grappling with the reality of their defeat and seeking ways to turn the tide in their favour, governance has kicked off at the State and National levels.

Lobbying, which according to politicians is the other side of the electioneering process has also reached its climax with some individuals being ‘fired’ to make room for fresh appointments.

In other instances, considering that the life span of the State Executive Councils expired with the preceding administration, few faces have emerged on the scene while a few old faces were returned.

In Rivers State, the case isn’t so different with about 60 percent of those already sworn into the Executive Council, being part of the previous administration led by Chief Bar. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, GSSRS, Life Bencher.

This move, has resulted in mixed reactions because some persons have the view that those who had served ought to take a bow and allow fresh minds to work with the State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Others however, believe that governance is a serious business and ought to have some level of continuity to enable the incumbent governor hit the ground running.

Another issue of concern is the fact that the number of women who have so far made the list of political appointees is so minute and does not reflect the gender friendly disposition attained during the previous administration, where women were Chief Judge and President of the Customary Court of Appeal, amongst several other elective and appointive positions.

Women were for the first time in the history of the State given the concession to occupy the position of Vice Chairman of Local Government Councils which gave them an edge to becoming LGA Council Chairmen.

Subsequently, two women became Council Chairmen in Bonny and Asari Toru LGAs by virtue of this concession when sadly their Chairmen died in the course of their tenures.The incumbent Bonny LGA Chairman, Dame Mrs. Anengi Barasua Claude Wilcox being a beneficiary of such benevolence.

The big question still remains. Should these men die before women can attain the status of LGA Chairman? Should women be given the opportunity from the beginning to contest for such offices and occupy same if or when they win?

Women have always played pivotal roles during campaigns, especially in the last election when the Mobilisation Directorate (Woman Wing) led by award winning former Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Tonye Briggs Oniyide and Engr. Alali Irimanga, went to the nook and crannies of the State, Criss crossing the 23 local Government Areas to galvanise support for Siminalayi Fubara.

There was also the New Rivers Vision Women led by Her Excellency Dame Ene Akawor, wife of the State Party Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP His Excellency Ambassador Desmond Akawor.

Former Commissioners Mrs. Nancy Nwankwo, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, Mrs. Sotonye Toby Fulton, and Dr. Emily Solomon and other prominent Rivers women including Prof. Gloria Obuzor, gave their best to ensure the victory of all PDP candidates, particularly the Governorship Candidate Sir Siminialayi Fubara.

Unfortunately, after Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, was appointed Secretary to State Government in 2003 during the administration of Dr. Peter Odili, no woman has occupied the Position twenty years after. And of course in the 90’s, the former Deputy Governor of Rivers State and current Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo served as the First Secretary to Government and Head of Service.

Does it mean no woman is eminently qualified to fill that position or is it a taboo to have a female SSG or Chief of Staff in Rivers State?. Despite having an array of Rivers women with brains and sagacity? Could it be said that it is a wishful thought?

Interestingly, Former Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, was one-time Chief of Staff to the then Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufai. In 2019, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, swore in Mrs Folasade Jaji as Secretary to the State Government, and Ifeoma Jane Nwobodo , served as Chief of Staff to the Enugu State Government.

Rivers State is known as a pacesetter, with Miss World, Agbani Derego as a proud daughter. The global lens is once again on the State during this formative stage of the new government led by Fubara.

Will Fubara surpass the achievement of his Predecessor in the empowerment of women, by appointing a woman or women into these positions considering the numerous support of women? Will it be too much to do?.

I end with this quote: “The day will come when men will recognize woman as his peer, not only at the fireside, but in councils of the nation. Then, and not until then, will there be the perfect comradeship, the ideal union between the sexes that shall result in the highest development of the race.”– Susan B. Anthony.

Gloria Boma Harry writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital