Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse, a traditional ruler from Rivers State, has publicly expressed his dismay over his removal as Chairman of the Rivers Traditional Rulers’ Council by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The dismissal occurred on June 21, while Awuse was reportedly in critical condition in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Governor Fubara, who succeeded Nyesom Wike, cited inactivity and a lack of effective leadership as reasons for Awuse’s removal. In his place, the governor appointed Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, the Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, to lead the council.
During a recent visit from former Governor Wike, who came to Awuse’s palace with a delegation to celebrate his recovery, the traditional ruler expressed deep disappointment over the circumstances surrounding his dismissal. Awuse, who hails from Emohua Local Government Area, reflected on his significant contributions to Governor Fubara’s campaign, including personally endorsing and campaigning for him across all 23 local government areas in the state.
Awuse recounted his efforts during the campaign, stating, “I never went out of this state without informing my governor; not just once; all written and acknowledged. So, when someone claimed they didn’t know where I was, I was surprised—unless there was another chairman besides me.”
He further expressed his sense of betrayal, emphasizing that he had supported Fubara when many others had not. “He was my candidate. I took him as my candidate. All the people running around him today, none of them showed face. I am the only traditional ruler, first class, that followed that campaign from local government to local government,” Awuse said.
The monarch revealed the personal toll of his dismissal, sharing how he was in a coma for 10 hours and spent six weeks in the ICU, relying on medical devices to sustain him. He expressed hurt over Governor Fubara’s comments that questioned his character during his time of illness.
Awuse stated, “I was sacked from my seat the day I was in ICU. I was in a coma for 10 hours. I told only him (Wike) because everybody rejected me. The government I was serving rejected me… I am learning how to stand up because I was in ICU for six weeks with gadgets all over my body, fed through my nose. And you (Fubara) told people when I was in ICU that I was a man of questionable character.”
Despite the ordeal, Eze Awuse remains resolute, insisting that he has always been a steady and loyal individual, regardless of the challenges he has faced. His story highlights the often unpredictable and harsh nature of political alliances and the personal costs that can accompany them.
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