By Emeka Amaefula
HOW I SELECTED MY FIRST FEMALE DEPUTY GOVERNOR IN 2014-WIKE
—CONGRATULATES DEPUTY ON 70th BIRTHDAY
The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike until recently opened up for the first time on how he was able to select Dr (Mrs.). Ipalibo Harry-Banigo Rivers state first female Deputy Governor in 2014 in his build up to contesting the 2015 governorship election. He revealed this while he visited the residential House of his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, who celebrated her 70th birthday on Tuesday 20th of December, 2022 as he described her as a dependable, trustworthy ally.
The Rivers State Governor said that Dr Harry-Banigo has been an exceptionally supportive deputy, who has never given him and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the State cause for concern. “One will attest to the glory of God, that she is a very dependable deputy governor, who has never had any cause to give us concern. You may have heard of other states where the deputies and their governors hardly work together. I know of most of my colleagues that find it difficult to send their deputy to represent them because they are not sure of what their deputy will do. So, they prefer that the seat of the state is vacant. But this is not that type of deputy” he said.
The elated Rivers state governor admitted that when he wanted to contest for the office of the governor in 2014, he deliberately wanted a paradigm shift in the political landscape of Rivers State which was predominantly dominated by men.
In a Press statement made available by Kelvin Ebiri, Media Assistant to the Rivers state governor stated that the search for a woman of substance led him to set up a Committee to select a Female Running mate led by former Attorney General Frank Owhor who introduced Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo who later became the first female deputy governor of Rivers state since its creation in 1967.According to him, prior to 2014, he had never met Dr Harry-Banigo, who was first introduced to him by former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Frank Owhor.
“I never knew the deputy governor before 2015. Somehow, I did set up a committee to search for a woman who will be my deputy, because I have looked around and said it must not be a male dominated thing. Since the creation of our State, down to the civilian government, we’ve never had a deputy governor that is a woman. And it was that committee through Frank Owhor, who incidentally told me that he worked with one lady who was Secretary to government and former Permanent Secretary. “So, on behalf of the members of the State Executive Council and dear good people of Rivers State, I want to sincerely say congratulations and happy birthday to you. ” Governor Wike said.
The governor opened up on how his wife the First Lady Justice Suzette Eberechi Wike was also among those who convinced him to pick Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo as his running mate, having known her to be a woman of integrity. The Deputy Governor currently is a candidate for Rivers West senatorial seat election coming up on February 25th 2023 under the Peoples Democratic party, PDP as Governor Wike told the celebrant and her guests that he was the one who suggested that Dr Harry-Banigo should contest for the Rivers West senatorial district in the 2023 election, because the State craves for quality and trustworthy representation in the National Assembly.
Today, Rivers state Governor has all Deputy Chairmanship seats in the 23 Local Government Councils being occupied by women and a quota of number of women reserved for them as Councillors in the 319 electoral wards in the state.
:——-Emeka Aamaefula—+234(0)8111813069
