A former Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Hon. Ezebunwo Ichemati, has accused Rivers State Sole Administrator Ibok Ete Ibas of appointing exclusively supporters of the FCT Minister to local government positions.
In an interview with Arise TV from 4:43, Ichemati sharply criticized the appointment process, stating, “He [Ibok Ete Ibas] has gone to show that his inauguration was a political disguise to finally capture and conquer Rivers State in what we call political fundamentalism, and it is a sad one. The sole administrators appointed in the 23 LGs are all known supporters of the FCT minister.”
The former mayor questioned the sincerity of peace efforts in the region, asking, “Where is the peace that we are preaching about leading us to exactly? Because it is unheard of that you come in and claim to be neutral, yet every appointment you’ve done, you’re only bringing in supporters of the minister.”
According to him, President Tinubu initially justified installing a sole administrator due to pipeline bombings in the region. However, Ichemati alleges that since taking office, Ibas “hasn’t visited any of the supposed pipelines that were bombed” and has instead focused on political matters. “It’s a sad one that, as a state, we are where we are today because the FCT minister has decided that for there to be peace in Rivers State, he should be the one controlling everything and making decisions,” Ichemati said.
He further alleged that those who refuse to comply face consequences: “If you decide to have a dissenting view and you decide not to be used, then you will be incapacitated through threats, intimidation, arrest, and frivolous blackmail.”
He concluded by claiming that peace negotiations in the state are consistently undermined by provocative actions from “persons who are benefiting from the crisis,” which he believes leads to “peace discussions being stalled.”
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