Niger Delta rights advocate, Ann-Kio Briggs, has leveled strong accusations against Rivers State Administrator, Ibok Ete Ibas, claiming he is worsening the crisis he was assigned to resolve by President Bola Tinubu.
Briggs criticized Ibas’s conduct during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, stating that his approach contradicts the purpose of his deployment to the oil-rich state.
President Tinubu had appointed Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff (2015–2021), as Rivers State Administrator in March, following the declaration of a state of emergency.
The president had also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, citing escalating tensions between Fubara and the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The decision, according to Tinubu, aimed at restoring calm to the politically tense state.
But Briggs insists that Ibas is only aggravating the situation.
“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,” she stated.
Briggs further alleged that Ibas is presiding over growing unrest in the state and noted that the former naval chief is not welcome among the people.
She emphasized that although the president had initially said the emergency rule would last six months, he retains the authority to reverse the decision and reinstate the previous democratic structure before the period elapses.
Earlier the same day, tensions played out in the streets of Port Harcourt as two opposing groups of women staged rallies.
One faction marched in support of Ibas and the emergency government, while another, partially unclothed, demanded the reinstatement of Governor Fubara.
