The Secretary-General of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Maobuoye Nangi-Obu, has denounced the suspension of political appointees and statutory commission boards in Rivers State by the state’s Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas. Nangi-Obu characterized this action as indicative of a “full-blown military dictatorship” and an alleged attempt to facilitate the unrestrained plundering of state resources.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Nangi-Obu asserted that the Administrator is implementing a calculated strategy to undermine democratic governance within the state. He claimed that the suspension of significant government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, Commissioners, Board Members, and Special Advisers, was orchestrated by politicians seeking to maintain dominance over Rivers State.
“The recent declaration by the Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, regarding the suspension of statutory commissions and boards with established tenures is an affront to the rights of the people of Rivers and represents nothing less than an outright military dictatorship in practice.
“This reckless action, carried out under the pretense of presidential authority, is a desperate maneuver to eliminate all checks and balances, thereby enabling the looting of Rivers State’s resources,” Nangi-Obu stated.
He further cautioned that such actions could lead to a political crisis in the state, emphasizing that the exclusion of legitimate government officials would foster instability and discontent among the populace.
“The citizens of Rivers State will not be misled—this is not a matter of governance; it is about consolidating power to perpetuate the reckless looting of the state’s treasury,” Nangi-Obu remarked.
The IYC Secretary-General urged the residents of Rivers to oppose what he termed an “abuse of power” and called for an immediate reversal of the suspensions. He stressed that Rivers State should not be transformed into the personal domain of a select few political figures at the expense of its citizens.
We call for the prompt reinstatement of this unlawful suspension and the restoration of democratic governance. Rivers State should not be transformed into the private domain of one individual and his associates, he concluded.
