Denouncing what it perceives as a creeping descent into authoritarian rule, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has strongly condemned the recent suspension of political appointees and statutory boards in Rivers State. The group’s Secretary-General, Maobuoye Nangi-Obu, described the move as emblematic of a “full-scale military despotism,” alleging it was designed to facilitate the unchecked pillaging of state resources.
In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, Nangi-Obu accused the state’s Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, of executing a meticulously orchestrated plan to dismantle democratic governance in Rivers State.
According to Nangi-Obu, the sweeping suspension of key officials—including the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, Commissioners, Board Members, and Special Advisers—was not a mere bureaucratic restructuring but a calculated political maneuver. He asserted that certain political actors were using the administrator’s office as a tool to tighten their grip over Rivers State.
“The latest decree issued by the Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, arbitrarily suspending statutory commissions and boards, is an outright violation of democratic principles and a brazen attempt to institute a dictatorship,” Nangi-Obu declared.
“This unconscionable act, cloaked under the guise of executive fiat, is a desperate ploy to dismantle institutional checks and balances, thereby creating an unchallenged conduit for the looting of Rivers State’s wealth,” he added.
Nangi-Obu warned that the move could throw Rivers State into a dangerous spiral of political unrest. By sidelining legally recognized government officials, he argued, the administrator was breeding instability and disenchantment among the populace.
“The people of Rivers State are not blind to this charade. This is not about governance; it is a calculated bid to seize absolute control and drain the state’s resources unchecked,” he cautioned.
The IYC Secretary-General urged Rivers residents to reject what he called an “egregious abuse of power.” He called for an immediate reversal of the suspensions and a restoration of democratic order, emphasizing that Rivers State must not be reduced to a fiefdom for a select few.
“We categorically demand the immediate nullification of this unconstitutional suspension. Rivers State must not be converted into the private dominion of a few power-hungry individuals,” he asserted.
With tensions mounting, the unfolding developments in Rivers State remain a flashpoint, as calls for accountability and adherence to democratic principles continue to gain momentum.
