…Urges National Assembly to restore Democratic Governance in the State
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticized as dictatorial and unconstitutional the conduct of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd.), in Rivers State.
The civil rights advocacy group in a statement issued in on Monday in Abuja, expressed grave concern over the manner in which the Sole Administrator has been running the affairs of the state, stating that the ongoing actions appear to be far removed from the President’s stated objective of restoring peace and reconciliation in the region.
HURIWA questioned the legitimacy of the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State in the first place, stressing that the state was not experiencing any breakdown of law and order or threat to internal security to warrant such a drastic constitutional intervention. The association pointed out that despite the declaration, there is still a sitting governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who has not been impeached or lawfully removed from office.
According to the group, the President has no constitutional authority to sack or suspend a governor duly elected by the people, adding that the position of a Sole Administrator is unknown to Nigeria’s democratic framework.
The association decried the pattern of sweeping changes being implemented by the administrator, particularly the widespread dismissal of political appointees already occupying legally recognized offices. HURIWA stated that it is deeply troubling that someone who was not elected by the people is going around dissolving offices and exercising executive powers that are constitutionally exclusive to a sitting governor.
Describing the situation as reminiscent of a civilian coup, HURIWA ‘s National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko warned that the current developments in Rivers State pose a serious threat to the rule of law and constitutional democracy.
The group urged the Sole Administrator to act within the confines of the law and cautioned him against further actions that infringe on the rights of the people of Rivers State.
HURIWA also expressed dismay at the role played by the National Assembly in what it called the rubber-stamping of the emergency proclamation. The group recalled that Nigerians were told that a committee of respected national statesmen and women would be set up to mediate and restore political stability in Rivers State, but to date, no such committee has been formed. Instead, the group lamented, the Sole Administrator has continued to act with unchecked powers, disregarding the constitutional authority of the governor and the rights of the people.
The association called on the National Assembly to immediately revisit the matter and take steps to restore democratic governance in the state. It urged the legislature to recognize that its primary duty is to protect the Constitution and the democratic aspirations of Nigerians, rather than serve as a tool for executive overreach.
HURIWA further aligned itself with the recent peaceful protests by young Nigerians across various states, who have taken to the streets to demand an end to what they see as an unlawful and dangerous subversion of democracy in Rivers State. The group applauded their civil approach and reiterated its full support for their demands, stressing that the will of the people must prevail in all democratic settings.
The civil rights body reiterated its position that the only path to genuine reconciliation and peace is through a return to constitutional order. It called on President Tinubu to listen to the voice of reason, end the political impasse, and ensure the immediate restoration of the constitutionally elected government in Rivers State.
According to HURIWA, what is currently playing out in Rivers is not only a travesty of justice but a mockery of Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy. The group emphasized that anything short of reinstating Governor Fubara and ending the administrator’s reign would be tantamount to endorsing a dangerous precedent that could erode democratic institutions across the country.
HURIWA reaffirmed its commitment to defending democratic norms and urged well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to speak out against what it described as an unfolding authoritarian project in the state. It concluded by calling for vigilance and peaceful resistance against any attempt to destroy the gains of Nigeria’s democratic journey.
