Dr. George Nwaeke, the Rivers State Head of Service, has resigned from his position, marking yet another shake-up in the state's turbulent political landscape.
His resignation was formally announced on Tuesday through a statement signed by the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas. The statement commended Nwaeke’s service during his brief tenure and extended best wishes for his future endeavors.
In his place, Dr. (Mrs.) Iyingi Brown, the Permanent Secretary for Welfare in the Office of the Head of Service, has been appointed in an acting capacity, pending the appointment of a substantive replacement.
While congratulating Brown on her new role, Ibas reaffirmed his administration's commitment to neutrality, peace, and stability in Rivers State.
Nwaeke’s resignation comes barely a week after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, leading to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Ordu, and all State Assembly members. The president’s decision has sparked a wave of backlash from political stakeholders, civil society groups, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and concerned residents of the state.
The unfolding events in Rivers State have kept the nation on edge, with many closely watching how the political crisis will unfold in the coming days.