Rivers caretaker chairman under fire for appointing 100 aides

The Caretaker Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, has faced backlash from netizens after announcing the appointment of 100 special assistants on Wednesday.

“As the Caretaker Chairman of Obio-Akpor local government area of Rivers State, I have approved the appointment of one hundred Special Assistants,” he wrote on his X handle.

Ihunwo then listed the names of the 100 appointees without specifying their portfolios.

He stated, “While congratulating the appointees, I charged them to work effectively and key into my developmental agenda, and inline with the vision of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.”

The post gained media attention on Thursday, shortly after the Supreme Court ruled that a state government has no power to appoint a caretaker committee and that a local government council is only recognisable with a democratically elected government.

“The judgment stated that the use of caretaker committees to run local governments is a violation of the Constitution, as it constitutes an attempt by the state government to take control of local governments.

Nigerians, reacting on X, criticised Ihunwo for the seemingly excessive appointments.

Ben Samuel, who tweets as, @flourish007, said, “Guess this is a joke taken too far? Otherwise, I would like you to define their job responsibilities or if they would be working free of charge?? Who are these people for God’s sake?”

On X.com, Julius Adegunna, who uses the Twitter handle @adegunna_julius, “This is wasteful. How many wards and towns do you have in your local government ?”

In a sarcastic comment, Temitope Ayanbisi, who tweets as @AyanbisiAT, said, “100 Special Assistants is too small sha. Obio-Akpor LGA has a population of 665,000 people. 10% of that number, at 66,500 Special Assistants would have been better. Add more numbers please, my able Chairman! ”

Another tweep, Darlington, using the handle @Darling88663948, said, “You and your uncountable funny assistants have lost your positions. You can reappoint them after you are duly elected.”

Lady of leisure, who tweets as @jupresss, said, “100 special assistants to Oga caretaker. With their own assistants and advisory. How can a local government afford such splurge? ”

Onyedịka, who identifies as @khardiy1 on X, said, “I don’t think 100 will be enough. Can you consider making them 10,000. You can even employ everybody you pass on the road.”