The Pilex Center, a group of legal experts, has raised alarm over a plot by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (rtd) to appoint Administrators for the 23 local government councils in the state.
A statement signed by the Coordinator of the group, Courage Nsirimovu said the plot is aimed at ” surreptitiously yielding control of the third tier of government in Rivers State to lackeys of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in furtherance of their odious objective of state capture”.
“Pilex Centre condemns in very strong terms the unrefined and unlawful interferences of the federal government with the administration of Rivers State, especially in such an incautious manner that smacks of a perceptible taste to heat-up the polity, build tension and project the state in the light of a crisis-ridden sub-national territory.
“We are aware the Sole Administrator, appointed by President Tinubu is not responsible to the people of Rivers State and therefore, every step he takes is geared towards satisfying the objective of defeating democracy, silencing the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and advancing the selfish, private vendetta of the President and his cohorts at the expense of the suffering people of Rivers State.
“In pursuit of the political vendetta, the Sole Administrator has relieved the Head of Service of Rivers State of his duty and announced a replacement. In a similar circumstance, he has appointed a New Secretary to the State Government – Prof. Ibibia Worika. It is important to stress that Prof. Worika is an ardent loyalist of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. He was Chairman of a delegation of Okrika people who organized a civic reception in honour of the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, for influencing the appointment of one their own – Boma Iyaye as Executive Director in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)”, the statement read in part
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While urging President Tinubu and the Sole Administrator to exercise restraints in their unlawful meddling into the administration of Rivers State, the group pointed out that section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution explicitly states that the system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is guaranteed under the constitution. They wondered where President Tinubu and his” illegitimate” Sole Administrator derive the powers to indulge in the action they have resolved to take.
According to the group, while Nigerians have continued in protest against the suspension of democratic governance in Rivers State and the consequential appointment of a Sole Administrator thereof, as unconstitutional, it is saddening that the said Sole Administrator whose appointment is illegal is wont to commit another illegality by planning to unlawfully appoint Sole Administrators for the local government councils.
“This is a clear instance of illegality breeding illegality, and it is all shades of wrong and portends grave danger to our democracy and the peace we enjoy in Rivers State.
“The Supreme Court had stipulated that a proper election be conducted and that apparently would be done by a legitimate government and not an illegitimate administration.
“Hence, Pilex Centre calls on Rivers people to resist the ploy of the said Administrator to foist another class of undemocratic leadership on us”
