Commissioner quits Wike’s cabinet less than 24 hours after colleague’s sack

Austin Tam-George (pictured with Wike) has resigned his appointment as the Rivers state commissioner for information and communication.

He tendered his resignation less than 24 hours after Harrison Iheanyichukwu, the state commissioner for works, was sacked.

Tam-George did not state the reason for his action and it is not yet clear if Nyesom Wike, governor of the state, has accepted his resignation.

“I wish to resign my appointment as commissioner for information and communication with effect from today, June 23, 2017,” his letter read.

“I have handed over officially to the director of administration in the ministry.”

Tam-George thanked Wike for the opportunity given him to serve the state.

Wike has moved against at least 10 members of his cabinet since he took office in May 2015.

In February, he fired Theophilus Ndagene, the commissioner for health.

Ndagene’s removal preceded that of Kevin Wachuku, who the governor accused Wachuku of living below expectation.

“I have a covenant with the people of Rivers state to develop this state. And anybody who is going to work with me must work at my speed and not at your own speed,” he had said while announcing the ex-commissioner’s sack.

“Nobody should come and drag me back like the former commissioner. Wachukwu is intelligent, but he could not meet up with the pace of work at the ministry.”

Five months after making that utterance, Wike suspended four commissioners, head of service and his special adviser on lands.