The recent suspension of the public sector structure in Rivers State by the Sole Administrator has triggered widespread alarm and concern. The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC Worldwide) has voiced its belief that this move signals the onset of a full-blown military regime in the state.
In a statement issued by Secretary-General Maobuye Mangi Obu, the IYC expressed that the inalienable rights of the populace have been severely undermined. The announcement, made late on the night of Wednesday, March 26, 2025, by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, who serves as the Rivers State Administrator, included the suspension of various statutory commissions and boards with established tenures.
Obu characterized this action as an affront to the rights of the residents of Rivers State, likening it to a full-scale military dictatorship. He argued that the initiative, which purportedly stems from presidential authority, appears to be a desperate strategy to eliminate all checks and balances, enabling a more straightforward appropriation of the state’s resources.
Citing President Thomas Jefferson, he noted, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men.”
The IYC asserted it is evident that the Administrator is merely advancing the agenda of former governor Nyesom Wike, who they claim is intent on maintaining control over the state and its resources. “By suspending key officials such as the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, Commissioners, Board Members, and Special Advisers, the Administrator has effectively dismantled the democratic framework, leaving Rivers State vulnerable to a select few loyalists eager to carry out the directives of the FCT Minister.”
They warned that this action carries serious security repercussions. “The marginalization of duly elected officials breeds discontent and threatens political stability, potentially leading Rivers State into crisis. The residents will not be misled—this is not a matter of governance; it is a power grab aimed at facilitating further exploitation of the state’s treasury.”
The IYC vehemently condemned this dictatorial maneuver, urging all citizens of Rivers State to oppose this blatant misuse of authority. “The state is owned by the people, not a clique of political opportunists seeking to drain it dry. Democracy must be reinstated; the voices of Rivers people must not be stifled.”
The IYC has demanded a prompt reversal of the suspensions and a return to democratic governance, asserting, “Rivers State must not become the private domain of an individual and his associates.”
