Prominent Niger Delta human rights activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has accused the Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok Ete Ibas, of escalating political tensions in the state instead of restoring order as directed by President Bola Tinubu.
Briggs made the remarks during an interview on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television, on Monday. She alleged that Ibas, a retired Chief of Naval Staff, is “pouring petrol on the fire” he was meant to extinguish, citing a series of controversial decisions since his appointment in March.
“First of all, I can assure you that he is pouring petrol on a fire Mr. President believes was burning,” she said. “He was told to come and pour water on that fire, to quench it. Well, he has done nothing of the sort.”
President Tinubu had appointed Ibas as administrator following the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, which led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. The president stated the move was aimed at restoring peace amid a prolonged political standoff between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Briggs, however, insisted that Fubara remains the constitutionally elected governor, accusing Ibas of removing democratically installed officials and even displacing Fubara’s official portraits from government buildings.
“There were no issues, and he came along and removed everybody,” she added. “Even in the government house, it is alleged that he has removed the pictures of Siminalayi Fubara.”
Briggs further claimed that Ibas is now overseeing a wave of violence in the state and is not welcomed by the people of Rivers.
Although President Tinubu initially declared that the emergency rule would last six months, Briggs emphasized that the president retains the power to reverse the decision and reinstate the democratic structure before the stipulated period elapses.
Earlier on Monday, the political divide in Rivers was on public display as two groups of women held simultaneous rallies in Port Harcourt. While one group demonstrated in support of Ibas and the emergency rule, another group—some of whom were half-clothed—demanded the return of Governor Fubara.
