In an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, Briggs warned that the situation in Rivers State was becoming volatile due to the administrator's continued defiance of court orders and his sweeping reconstitution of state and local government institutions.
Ann-Kio Briggs, the Nigerian human rights activist and prominent Rivers State commentator, has lamented the ongoing actions of the Federal Government by appointing a sole administrator in Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, (retd.), accusing him of implementing a dangerous and unconstitutional agenda.
In an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, Briggs warned that the situation in Rivers State was becoming volatile due to the administrator's continued defiance of court orders and his sweeping reconstitution of state and local government institutions.
"If we accept that Vice Admiral Ibas was called out of retirement and sent to Rivers State to keep the peace, then he is very far from doing that. In fact, what he's doing is pouring petrol on a fire the president may have thought was simmering. He's set it ablaze," Briggs said.
Since President Bola Tinubu's suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers State has been operating without commissioners or an active executive cabinet.
However, rather than serving as a neutral caretaker, Ibas has taken bold steps by removing elected local government officials, appointing caretaker administrators, and even constituting a new electoral commission to oversee local polls.
According to Briggs, these actions violate both the spirit and letter of the law.
"He's not from Rivers State. How does he know who to appoint? On what basis is he removing civil servants and replacing them? That's unconstitutional," she said.
Briggs further alleged that the sole administrator is acting with open political bias and is effectively advancing the interests of a powerful political figure.
"The people being removed are not Wike's people. The people he is bringing in are Wike's people. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure that out. He's playing a dangerous script," she stated.
She also called on President Tinubu to re-evaluate the basis of the federal government's intervention in Rivers State.
"There was no insecurity in Rivers State. The president has been grossly misinformed-through no fault of his own-but clearly misinformed by those with personal, political, economic, and power interests in Rivers State."
Briggs urged that respected national figures with proven neutrality-like Bishop Matthew Kukah and General Abdulsalami Abubakar -be considered for any peacebuilding roles in Rivers.
"We would have more confidence if neutral individuals like them were involved. Frankly, we don't want Ibas in that role."
As the crisis deepened, the activist warned of the rising anger among Rivers's people and the possibility of civil unrest.
"There is serious concern. I say this as a daughter of Rivers State. This kind of situation can explode," she said.
Comments