EXTRA: Wike appoints 100,000 more special assistants

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, says he has increased the number of newly-appointed special assistants from 100,000 to 200,000.

According to a statement by Kelvin Ebiri, special assistant on media to the governor, Wike said this on Friday while inaugurating the second batch of special assistants from Rivers east senatorial district at Omagwa, Ikwerre LGA.

He said the increase followed requests he received from Rivers people asking to be considered.

He also said political leaders across LGAs should support in selecting qualified citizens for various positions.

“As I speak to you, my mail box almost crashed. People are sending text messages saying ‘why are you leaving us alone? The job is too much; this number cannot do the work’,” he said.

“Therefore, a lot of Rivers people are volunteering to be part of this work. And I can announce to you today, we have increased the number from 100,000 to 200,000.”

The governor said the appointments will help the people with “assessment of government and policies, whether positive or negative, and transmit same as feedback to his office through the constituency and ward liaison officers”.

The governor said his administration will not relent in discharging its duties in the remaining months of its tenure, even though a lot has already been achieved.

“It is me who is appointing. It is me that wears the shoes that knows where it pinches. It is not you outside because you are not part of government. I know what it takes and I know that these people will help me. Now that I am finishing, I want to finish very well,” he said.

He added that the appointees are among the nearly six million people selected to serve in his administration, and urged them to be committed to their jobs.