Rivers State Elders, N’Delta Groups Slam Ibas for Sacking Fubara’s Appointees

The decision of the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), to suspend appointees of Governor Siminalayi Fubara has drawn sharp criticism from various stakeholders in the Niger Delta. The Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council, and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) have condemned the move, describing it as illegal and a blatant abuse of power.

On Wednesday, Ibas issued a statement through his Chief of Staff announcing the suspension of key government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government and Commissioners. The move has further deepened the political crisis in Rivers State, with many questioning the constitutional basis for his actions.

Ijaw National Congress Declares Ibas’ Actions Illegal

The President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, denounced the decision, insisting that it was unlawful and unconstitutional. He emphasized that Nigeria’s Constitution does not recognize a sole administrator in any state and does not provide for the suspension of an elected governor or his appointees.

“It is all one component of multiple fractions on our constitution. The constitution does not provide for sole administrators or even the suspension of a legitimately elected governor. Section 308 of our constitution is very clear, and those conditions were never met. So, whatever he (Ibas) is doing is an extension of illegality,” Okaba stated.

He further argued that the actions of Ibas were in line with a broader plan to seize control of Rivers State and its resources. He also warned that Ibas might soon attempt to appoint caretaker committees for the local governments, which would directly contradict a Supreme Court ruling that prohibits such actions.

Rivers State Elders Condemn Sole Administrator’s Appointment

A member of the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council and former spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Anabs Sara-Igbe, echoed similar sentiments, describing Ibas’ appointment by President Bola Tinubu as unconstitutional. He criticized the federal government’s decision to release funds to Ibas while withholding allocations from Governor Fubara due to an alleged budget delay.

“The Supreme Court ruled that Fubara should not be paid until he presents the budget. However, the governor was denied the opportunity to present the budget. Instead, they wanted to impeach him. When that failed, they resorted to appointing a former military chief to administer the state, which is illegal,” Sara-Igbe said.

He warned that Ibas had no legal authority to sack commissioners or appoint local government administrators, adding that the Supreme Court had already ruled against caretaker administrations at the local government level. According to him, the appointment of Ibas was an attempt to empower former Rivers Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for six months.

Ijaw Youth Council Alleges Dictatorship and Corruption

The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide also condemned the move, describing it as an attempt to establish full-blown dictatorship in Rivers State. The Secretary General of IYC, Maobuye Obu, alleged that the suspension of political appointees was a strategy to loot state resources while dismantling all checks and balances in governance.

“This reckless move, executed under the guise of presidential authority, is a desperate attempt to remove all possible checks and balances to facilitate the looting of Rivers State’s resources,” Obu stated.

He accused Ibas of acting on behalf of Wike and warned that the move had serious security implications, as it sidelined legitimate government officials and could plunge the state into political instability. The IYC called on Rivers residents to reject what it termed an “abuse of power” and demanded an immediate reversal of the suspensions.

Okocha Backs Tinubu, Defends Emergency Declaration

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has defended President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency, stating that it has resolved 90% of the crisis in the state. He argued that suspending Governor Fubara and appointing Ibas was necessary to prevent anarchy.

“I want to tell you that the state of emergency declaration by Mr. President saved Rivers State from anarchy. When you see non-state actors brandishing guns and making statements that suggest lawlessness, you know that a problem is looming,” Okocha said.

Despite opposition from PDP leaders such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, Okocha insisted that Tinubu’s decision had restored order in the state. He also dismissed allegations that Wike was behind the crisis, arguing that the political turmoil stemmed from the internal struggles within the PDP.

As the political tension in Rivers State escalates, legal experts and political analysts are closely watching the situation, with many predicting that the issue could become a major constitutional test for Nigeria’s democracy.