The former chairman of Omuma Local Government Area, Promise Reginald, has accused the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.), of bias and illegality in the discharge of his duties.
Promise made these assertions during an appearance on Arise TV.
He alleged that the Sole Administrator dismantled the existing local government structure in Rivers State to install new leadership in the Local Government Commission, appointing a first cousin of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
He further accused the Sole Administrator of derailing from the purpose of his appointment, failing to meet with both political factions to broker peace, and instead acting with illegality and impunity.
According to him, Ibas was acting as if he belonged to “one group alone.”
Promise said, “What has happened in Rivers State, to tell you the truth — democracy has been killed and buried. As I speak to you, the sole aim for which the Sole Administrator was sent to Rivers State, according to Mr. President, was to foster peace.
“In the very first week, we thought he did well by calling the chiefs and heads of local government administration to engage with them.”
“Afterwards, what happened clearly shows that this whole thing is targeted at the governor of Rivers State. Why would the Sole Administrator act like he is the elected governor? I know the governor is not aware of these actions. We expected the Sole Administrator to brief him directly. Dismantling a well-established democratic system put in place by the governor is impunity.”
“How do you explain to the people of Rivers State that you dissolved the RSIEC, which is responsible for conducting local government elections? You appointed people — who gave you those names?” he quipped.
Speaking further, he noted, “As a matter of law, the Sole Administrator has no power to conduct elections in the state. Yet, as if that wasn’t enough, they went ahead to announce the names of those who would oversee the local governments. This is pure impunity. I am sure the President is not aware, but it’s high time we spoke up and told the world what is happening in Rivers State.”
“Is Rivers State not part of Nigeria? Is the Constitution no longer applicable here? Are we in a full-blown military regime? If that’s the case, tell us, and we’ll go home and sleep.”
“What is happening is clear provocation — meant to make the governor’s supporters resist, which would then be used as an excuse to create mayhem. I want the world to know that the Sole Administrator does not have the power to do all that he has done.”
“You went to the Local Government Commission and appointed the first cousin of the FCT Minister — is that proper?”
“It’s high time the Sole Administrator understands that his mission here is not to serve one group. He was supposed to call both parties and work toward political peace. We expected meetings to be held with both the FCT Minister’s camp and the governor’s, so we could jointly inform the President that Rivers is ready to move forward. Instead, what we are seeing is impunity.”
It will be recalled that following the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State in March, President Bola Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the state’s Sole Administrator during a ceremony at the State House in Abuja.
His actions have since drawn widespread condemnation as undemocratic. Many have also accused the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of orchestrating the crisis, alleging that President Tinubu is acting on behalf of his ally in the state.
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