|By Adejumo Adekunle-
Activist Slams Presidential Appointee for Escalating Political Crisis
Says Rivers Administrator, Ibas, Has Fuelled Tensions Instead of Restoring Peace
Niger Delta human rights activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has accused the Presidential Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok Ete Ibas, of worsening the political crisis in the state instead of quelling it as instructed by President Bola Tinubu.
Briggs, while speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme on Monday, alleged that Ibas had intensified political tension by displacing democratically elected officials and promoting unrest.
“First of all, I can assure you that he is pouring petrol on a fire Mr. President believes was on,” Briggs said.
“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.”
Briggs also claimed that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s portraits were allegedly taken down from the Government House — a move she described as unconstitutional and provocative.
“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 stressed.
President Tinubu appointed Ibas — Nigeria’s former Chief of Naval Staff (2015–2021) — in March 2025 after declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspending Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. The President said his intention was to restore peace amid the prolonged political faceoff between Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
But Briggs insisted that Ibas, rather than calming the state, has deepened the divide, pointing to recent developments and rising unrest as proof that his presence has been counterproductive.
She further stated that President Tinubu still reserves the power to reverse the emergency rule before the six-month period expires and return the state to democratic order.
Her remarks followed massive protests by women groups in Port Harcourt on Monday. One group marched in support of Ibas and the emergency rule, while another, comprising half-clad women, called for the immediate return of Fubara to office.
