National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Amb. Godknows Igali has deplored the activities of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibokete Ibas in the state.
In a strongly worded open letter to the administrator titled: “Our deep concerns over tearing down of democratic institutions in Rivers State,” Igali expressed outrage that President Tinubu had no regards for the leaders of the Niger Delta, after asking them to work for peace during their meeting with him at Aso Villa, only to turn around and impose emergency rule in Rivers State.
“I have thought it important and quite pertinent to write to you to raise a matter of serious concern to all watchers of events in Rivers State, and particularly, leaders of various groups in the South-South of the country.
“This is as it pertains to what we observe to be a systematic tearing down of various structures, which are important for the continued building and consolidation of democracy in Rivers State, right now taking place under your watch,” the letter said.
Igali noted that he had been close in government, having worked closely with at least three former presidents, to know that the “decapitation of democratic institutions in times of emergency rule is alien and repugnant to our current democratic structure.”
He recalled that during the time of President Goodluck Jonathan, the then Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), was man enough and had the fear of God to tell the then president that even though parts of the country, Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe were under foreign invasion, a state of emergency cannot result in pulling down the institutions of democratic governance that are still being nurtured after long years of military rule.
Citing cases of actions of the administrator that are rather repulsive, Igali said: “First, is the removal of the photographs of the elected governor from all offices when he has not yet been removed from office.
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“Beyond that, is your most recent decision to suspend the boards of existing statutory institutions such as the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, governing councils of tertiary institutions, and even the revered traditional rulers council.”
He declared that the role of a sole administrator should be making decisions in an interim manner, financial control, managing personnel, and taking measures to ensure peace in the state.
“It is against this backdrop that I have been in great pain to write this letter to you, and take the liberty to caution that in this complex national assignment which you find yourself enlisted to carry out, you must be timorous enough to not find yourself taking decisions that pale in the sight of best and acceptable standards of decency.
“This is more so as I have thoroughly read the Gazette dated 19th March, 2025, appointing you as administrator as well as extracts of National Assembly proceedings of Thursday, 20th March, 2025, and do not find the kind of wide and sweeping powers being deployed by your office.
“In conclusion, may the good Lord use you as a dispassionate instrument of peace, and may you have the courage to undo some of your actions that have so far proven to be over the bar,” the PANDEF leader said.
