David Akachukwu
Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us
The United States chapter of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) has called for the resignation of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the sole administrator in Rivers State.
NADECO argued that President Bola Tinubu does not have the constitutional authority to suspend Governor Sim Fubara and appoint a sole administrator.
Ibas was appointed following Tinubu’s suspension of Fubara for six months, which followed the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
President Tinubu explained that the decision was made to prevent further escalation of the political crisis in the state.
However, Lloyd F. Ukwu, the President of NADECO in the U.S., stated that Ibas would be accountable only to Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, and not to the people of Rivers State.
In a statement he signed, Ukwu said: “Nigeria operates as a federation, and Rivers State is a sovereign entity within it. As President, Tinubu lacks the constitutional authority to unilaterally suspend an elected governor like Fubara.
“Rivers State is not a subordinate institution, neither is it a High School and Tinubu is not its overseer and not the Principal of a high school who can suspend a student willy-nilly.
“To be clear, his own presidency remains under a cloud of illegitimacy, having been declared the winner by INEC despite widespread irregularities and disputes over the election’s credibility.
“It is both absurd and unjust for a president whose mandate is contested to attempt the removal of a legally and duly elected governor.
“The irony is glaring a leader accused of electoral fraud seeking to undermine democratic governance in Rivers State. In a democracy, sovereignty resides with the citizens, not with an unelected administrator or an aspiring autocrat or want-to-be civilian dictator in Abuja.
“Governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed leaders are entrusted with the power to serve the people, not to rule over them by imposing an administrator over them. The people of Rivers State exercised their democratic right in 2023 by electing Siminalayi Fubara as their governor.
“They did not choose an imposed administrator. NADECO therefore demands the immediate resignation of this illegitimate appointee.
“True democracy requires that governance be rooted in the people’s will, expressed through free and fair elections. The current administrator is an imposter and a usurper, lacking any mandate from the people. NADECO calls on Rivers people to unequivocally reject him.
“This imposed administrator is accountable not to Rivers people but to Tinubu, Akpabio, Kereke Ekun, and Wike. His allegiance lies with these political actors, not with the citizens he claims to govern.
“The principle of “Power to the People” is enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights instruments, including the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Upholding this principle, NADECO insists that Rivers people must completely and resolutely reject this illegal administrator, forcing his resignation. Anything less is unacceptable.”
Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it.
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.
