Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has relieved his long-time ally, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, of his position as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and approved the appointment of Hon. Benibo Frederick Anabraba as his replacement.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by Dr. Honour Kuru Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications. According to the statement, Anabraba will be sworn in at 4:00 p.m. on Monday at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Governor Fubara, who was reinstated earlier this year after a six-month suspension following the federal government’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, has been slow in reconstituting his cabinet. The absence of key appointments, including the SSG and Chief of Staff, had reportedly caused growing unease within his political circle.
Before his new appointment, Anabraba represented Akuku-Toru Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly. He was first elected in 2021 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he maintained close ties with former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
Political observers interpret Anabraba’s appointment as confirmation of speculations that Governor Fubara was under pressure not to reappoint either Danagogo or Dr. Edison Ehie to his new cabinet—conditions believed to have been part of the Abuja peace accord brokered between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike.
Two weeks ago, Fubara and Wike met behind closed doors at the Port Harcourt residence of Chief Ferdinand Alabrabra, Chairman of the Rivers Elders Council. Although Wike’s camp described the meeting as a “family reunion,” insiders claim it centered on restructuring the state’s political leadership and influencing appointments to protect Wike’s political interests in Rivers State.
Leave a Comment