Fubara, Wike’s Allies Reacts To Appointments Of Administrator, Ibas In Rivers
Allies of the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, have voiced strong opposition to the recent appointments made by the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.), describing them as “lopsided” and politically motivated.
Both factions loyal to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and Fubara have argued that many of the new appointees had previously worked together before the political crisis in the state, further deepening divisions.
On Thursday, Ibas announced the appointment of administrators for the 23 local government areas (LGAs) of the state to oversee council affairs.
In addition, new appointments were made to key positions, including the chairman and members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), as well as the chairmen and members of the Civil Service Commission and Local Government Service Commission.
However, the appointments were met with resistance from Fubara’s loyalists, who accused Ibas of exacerbating the already tense political crisis in the state.
A group, Initiative for Transparency, Strategy, and Good Leadership, has strongly condemned the appointments, alleging that all individuals appointed to the 23 LGAs are loyalists of Minister Nyesom Wike.
Tarakirivoice reports that the group further claimed that the appointees to the Civil Service Commission and the Local Government Service Commission were also aligned with Wike.
The President-General of the group, Chizi Enyi, spoke out during a press briefing in Port Harcourt, criticizing the process as “unconstitutional” and suggesting that Wike’s recent visit to the state may have influenced Ibas’ decision-making.
Enyi said, “Since assuming office, he [Ibas] has not called the political gladiators to seek peace. Instead, he has resorted to appointing people into offices under suspicious circumstances.”
He went on to call on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, urging that the sole administrator be cautioned for further destabilizing the state.
Rivers Emancipation Movement Warns Of Mass Action
The Rivers Emancipation Movement also expressed concerns over Ibas’ lack of neutrality in his appointments. The group warned that if Ibas did not reverse the appointments, they would resort to mass action to demonstrate their discontent.
In an interview, the National President of the Rivers Emancipation Movement, Solomon Tamunotonye, explained, “For instance, the sole administrator of Port Harcourt City LGA is a well-known loyalist and follower of Wike, and the same applies to almost all the LGAs. This clearly demonstrates a lack of impartiality and fuels further division.
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