Human rights activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has accused Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), of fixing loyalists of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in key positions in the oil-bearing state.
Ann-Kio Briggs, an indigene of Rivers and a vocal voice, said President Bola Tinubu made a mistake by suspending Governor Siminalaye Fubara on March 18 and appointing Ibas as Administrator for six months.
“There was no insecurity in Rivers State. The president has been grossly misinformed — through no fault of his own — but clearly misinformed by those with personal, political, economic and power interests in Rivers State”, she said on Arise TV.
“The Administrator is implementing a dangerous and unconstitutional agenda. The situation in Rivers State is becoming volatile due to the administrator’s continued defiance of court orders and his sweeping reconstitution of state and local government institutions.
“If we accept that Vice Admiral Ibas was called out of retirement and sent to Rivers State to keep the peace, then he is very far from doing that. In fact, what he’s doing is pouring petrol on a fire the president may have thought was simmering. He’s set it ablaze,” Briggs said.
“Rather than serving as a neutral caretaker, Ibas has taken bold steps by removing elected local government officials, appointing caretaker administrators, and even constituting a new electoral commission to oversee local polls. These actions violate both the spirit and letter of the law.
“He’s not from Rivers State. How does he know who to appoint? On what basis is he removing civil servants and replacing them? That’s unconstitutional,” she said.
Briggs further alleged that the sole administrator is acting with open political bias and is effectively advancing the interests of Wike.
“The people being removed are not Wike’s people. The people he is bringing in are Wike’s people. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that out. He’s playing a dangerous script,” she stated.
She also called on Tinubu to re-evaluate the basis of federal government’s intervention in Rivers.
Briggs urged that respected figures with proven neutrality like Bishop Matthew Kukah and General Abdulsalami Abubakar be considered for any peace-building roles in Rivers.
“We would have more confidence if neutral individuals like them were involved. Frankly, we don’t want Ibas in that role.
There is rising anger among Rivers’ people which may lead to civil unrest.
“There is serious concern. I say this as a daughter of Rivers State. This kind of situation can explode,” she said.
