Olusegun Ariyo
Niger Delta human rights activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has accused Rivers State Administrator, Ibok Ete Ibas of pouring petrol to the fire President Bola Tinubu sent him to quench in the state.
This was as she said Ibas’s actions in the state were contrary to what the president sent him to do.
Urban Express News Online reports that Tinubu appointed Ibas, Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff from July 2015 to January 2021, as the Administrator of the oil-rich state in March after the President declared a state of emergency and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The president had said that he decided to restore peace in the state following the political tension between Governor Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
However, speaking on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television on Monday, Ann-Kio Briggs alleged that Ibas is pouring petrol on fire.
“First of all, I can assure you that he is pouring petrol on a fire Mr President believes that was on.
“So, he was told to come and pour water on that fire, to quench it. Well, he has done nothing of the sort. I have told you that he has removed people who were constitutionally and democratically in governance.
“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. I repeat, Siminalayi Fubara remains the governor of Rivers State,” Ann-Kio Briggs said.
According to her, Ibas is currently overseeing violence in Rivers State, saying that the retired military chief is not welcomed in the state.
She added that although the President stated the state of emergency would last for six months, it doesn’t mean he can’t change his mind and return everything to the status quo before the stipulated time.
Recall that earlier on Monday, two groups of women held rallies in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
While one group was in support of Ibas and the emergency rule, the other group who were half-clothed demanded the return of Fubara.
