Erstwhile Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike’s tenure might have ended, but he is still giving the people of the State, particularly, women and children, reason to continue celebrating him.

This is because, his administration harped on, and made deliberate efforts to entrench gender parity or would we say equity at the state and local government levels.

Perhaps no other administration before him possessed the political clout to entrench gender parity like the Nyesom Wike led administration.

His administration birthed the first female Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, ensured women emerged vice chairmen across the 23 local government areas.

This led to the emergence of two acting and later substantive local government chairmen, Asari-Toru and Bonny LGAs, when both LGA chairmen died while in office.

Political detractors had thought then that Wike will pander to masculine whims and shop for another male chairman to succeed the late Bonny LG chief executive, David Rogers Irimagha.

He disappointed them by following due process and swearing in Dame Anengi Claude-Wilcox into office as the 6th substantive chairman of Bonny LGA.

Same scenario played out in Asari-Toru LGA following the death of late Odiari Princewill, his vice, Alaso Johnbull Obi assumed office as acting and later substantive Chairman until the local government elections when a new chairman, Onengiyeofori George was elected into office.

These deft moves further emblematized Wike’s penchant for due process, unrelenting desire for gender parity and women advancement in politics.

This trend was sublimated by the choice of running mate to Siminialayi Fubara, and now Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Ordu’s emergence, a first in the Rivers State political spectrum.

This posture probably influenced his successor, Siminalayi Fubara to name a female, Ngozi Ordu as running mate.

Siminalayi Fubara, having served in Wike’s administration and being his close ally, might have borrowed a leaf from him by seeking to carry Rivers people along through recognition of both masculine and feminine gender in his administration.

Perhaps his effort at gender inclusivity could be communicated through the appointment of qualified women into the State Executive Council.

This could be seen in the second stream of nominees communicated to the State House of Assembly – after the first set of appointments, which all males – to be appointed into Executive Council by Governor Fubara.

Noticeable among these nominees is Wike’s former Chief of Staff, Emeka Woke, and immediate past Commissioner of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Inime Aguma, both of them technocrats with proven administrative competence.

Could it be that Fubara’s young administration is already replicating the Nyesom Wike led executive council by onboarding competent, ideas-driven individuals?

Will Governor Fubara, having nominated Aguma to be screened by the State Assembly, go a notch further to entrench gender parity by ensuring that the two most significant appointments in his administration, chief of staff and secretary to state government, be occupied by persons of both gender?

There seems to be a consensus among public sector administration watchers that Emeka Woke proved his mettle as Governor Wike’s Chief of Staff, it will not be surprising that he will do better in the Fubara led administration.

But the point of focus is Inime Aguma; is Rivers State through the Fubara led administration about to make history with the appointment of the next female Secretary to State Government after Ipalibo Harry Banigo and Aleruchi Cookey-Gam?