Barring any last minute change of plans, the 14 new commissioners whose names have been submitted by the Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, to the state house of assembly for confirmation, may be screened, cleared and sworn-in to assume duties next week. It is believed that the governor is in a hurry to hit the ground running with the new team.
Of the 14 nominees, eight of them are brand new, while six of them would be launching a come-back into the government of Diri. Of the six, Moses Teibowei, the immediate past works commissioner may just be one of the longest serving commissioner in the state.
Teibowei was with Senator Seriake Dickson and served in the same office. Diri found him worthy and continued with him in the same ministry. It is likely that he will return to that ministry under the new dispensation.
Apart from Tibowei, Maxwell Ebibai has also served the two governors-Dickson and Diri. Under Dickson, he served for the eight years as commissioner for finance. He continued in that same office under the Diri government which ended in February this year.
Having been re-appointed, Ebibai is likely to return to that same office. Just like Ebibai, Mr Daniel Igali, the immediate past sports commissioner, is returning to the state executive council and is also very likely to go back to his former office.
Biriyai Dambo, SAN, the immediate past commissioner for justice, is also returning to the cabinet, just as Dr. Ebieri Jones and Dr Emelah Gentle.
The others who will hopefully appear before the Assembly next week are Mrs. Koku Ebiuwou Obiyai, George Rex Flint, Komuko Akari Kharim, Perepuighe Biewari, Preye Brodrick, Peter Afagha, Mrs. Elizabeth Bidei and Michael Magbisa.
