The Conference of Professionals in the Peoples Democratic Party (CP-PDP) has cautioned the administrator of Rivers State, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) to steer clear of the statutory allocation and all other funds accruable or released to the state.
The group, after a meeting yesterday, said Ibas must note that no provision of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) grants him the power under any circumstance to appropriate or disburse allocations or any fund accruable to Rivers State.
A communique by the protem national coordinator of CP-PDP, Barr. Obinna Nwachukwu, said they were putting the EFCC on notice regarding any withdrawal and spending of Rivers State public funds by Ibas for further action in the interest of the people of the state.
The communique further said its foreign affairs experts would be petitioning international bodies for appropriate sanctions including visa ban for individuals and families of individuals involved in undermining democracy in Nigeria, particularly in Rivers State.
“Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) should note that his appointment by President Tinubu as sole administrator of Rivers State even with the endorsement of the National Assembly, remains illegal as it is completely inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, with specific reference to Section 5(2) which provides that the executive powers of a state shall be vested only in the democratically elected governor of the state.
“Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas is particularly referred to Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution which provides that “if any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this constitution shall prevail and that other law, to the extent of the inconsistency be void,” the group said.
They added that the endorsement of his appointment by the National Assembly was therefore void not being consistent with provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Consequently, the CP-PDP is putting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on notice regarding any withdrawal and spending of Rivers State public funds by Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) for further action in the interest of the people of Rivers State,” the group said.
