The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for swearing in retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas as the sole administrator of Rivers State.
The group’s reaction followed President Tinubu’s swearing-in of Ibas as Rivers State’s sole administrator on Wednesday.
In a statement made available to journalists, the national president of the group, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, warned that the development in Rivers could plunge the entire Niger Delta region into chaos.
Nnabuike stated that the President had been ill-advised into “placing the interest of one man above the interest of the entire people of Rivers State.”
The Ohanaeze youths expressed shock that, despite the clear provisions of the Constitution, “Mr President was wrongly advised by people who have ulterior motives.”
According to Nnabuike: “We have always known Mr President as a democrat—one who fought for the country’s return to democracy, one who even at some point condemned a state of emergency in the past—but today, the tables have turned.
“This should be condemned by all lovers of democracy, and we expect Mr President to reverse it. The constitution clearly outlines the process for the removal of an elected governor.”
The group also described as shocking the swearing-in of the sole administrator, even though the National Assembly had yet to ratify the state of emergency, as clearly provided for in the constitution.
“We are at a loss over the hasty swearing-in of the sole administrator, even while the President’s letter to both chambers of the National Assembly is yet to be read or debated.
“It appears that some enemies of the government are misleading Mr President into making wrong decisions. Everything playing out is part of the 2027 politicking, and we urge Mr President to carefully consider the kind of advice he is receiving from those around him,” Nnabuike stated.
He further stated that it was concerning that President Tinubu’s broadcast to the nation made no mention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
“Everyone knows that Wike is the architect of the crisis in Rivers State. His overbearing attitude towards Governor Fubara led to this unfortunate situation.
“The same Wike stood against godfatherism when he was governor, but today, he refuses to give the current governor breathing space.
“Curiously, no mention of Wike was made in Mr President’s broadcast. This is totally unacceptable—we expect that Wike should also be suspended.
“Mr President should, as a father, handle the Rivers situation with utmost care, just as he did in Lagos and Ondo states, where he called the parties involved and resolved their issues,” Nnabuike added.