Renowned Niger Delta rights activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has criticised the actions of Rivers State sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), accusing him of escalating the political crisis in the state instead of resolving it, as mandated by President Bola Tinubu.
Briggs made the remarks while speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Monday night.
She expressed concern over the recent developments in Rivers State following the federal government’s declaration of a state of emergency in March.
LEADERSHIP recalls that President Tinubu had suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, citing rising political tension between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The President appointed Ibas, who served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 to oversee the state and restore peace in six months.
However, Ann-Kio Briggs said Ibas was doing the opposite of what the President intended.
“First of all, I can assure you that he is pouring petrol on a fire Mr President believes that was on,” she said. “So, he was told to come and pour water on that fire, to quench it. Well, he has done nothing of the sort.”
Briggs further alleged that Ibas has taken unconstitutional actions, including the removal of key government figures and the symbolic erasure of Governor Fubara’s presence from the Government House.
“There were no issues, and he came along and removed everybody. Even in the Government House, it is alleged that he has removed the pictures of Siminalayi Fubara,” she added. “I repeat, Siminalayi Fubara remains the governor of Rivers State.”
She accused the retired military officer of overseeing violence in the state and claimed that his presence was unwelcome by many residents.
Despite the President’s declaration that the emergency rule would last for six months, Briggs believed the timeline was flexible.
“The President can change his mind and return everything to the status quo before the stipulated time,” she said.
Earlier on Monday, the political divide in the state was reflected in the streets of Port Harcourt, as two groups of women staged opposing protests. One group rallied in support of Ibas and the emergency rule, while another group, some of whom were half-clothed, demanded the immediate return of Governor Fubara.
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