Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has alleged that retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ette-Ibas looted Rivers state dry all through the six months period that he held sway as sole administrator of the oil-rich state.
The APC chieftain made the allegation in a statement made available to media houses, on Monday.
Eze maintained that plundering the treasure, hijacking the political structure and ensuring that Rivers state doesn’t progress ahead of Lagos were the major factors why a state of emergency was declared, and not for any insecurity reason.
He noted that the Sole Administrator, Ibas, has succeeded in achieving the purpose and aim of the emergency rule.
The APC Chief said it was saddening to know that Nyesom Wike, a son of Rivers State was used as a tool to accomplish these illegalities against the State and her people.
“Imagine a situation where the multinationals that harness the oil in the Niger Delta are headquartered in Lagos. All the benefits from the oil exploration viz- tax, employment etc., go to Lagos while the Niger Deltans suffer the exploitation. So, in order to firm-up the grip of Lagos on the huge oil revenue, there has to be perpetual destabilization of the Niger Delta region, particularly, Rivers State. This is so because, they do not want Rivers State economy to compete with Lagos.
“While he served as Governor, Amaechi gave Lagos a serious chase, and Rivers was almost at par with Lagos in all spheres. Governor Fubara’s commitment to revive investment in infrastructure and build an enabling environment for businesses threatened Tinubu and Lagos. That is why the President didn’t think twice; didn’t look at the laws of the country; didn’t consider the dangers, the criticisms that may come with the unlawful suspension of the Governor. Fubara’s performance was a threat.
“All through the six months period that the Administrator held sway, the wheel of progress was grounded. Everything came to a halt. No project was initiated. Non was completed. Non proceeded beyond the level it was when the Governor was unlawfully suspended. And no one is asking questions on the whereabouts of Rivers money. Mr. Ibas looted the state dry. That was the mandated.
“How can a man who said he was sent to make peace turn around to support a faction in the crisis? Giving them appointments here and there even when such indulgences clearly offend extant laws. Conducting local council elections without having the powers to do so. It’s unfortunate we find ourselves here.
“The Governor, upon his return must prioritize the development of the state, which he has always pursued with zeal. And service to the people should be top on his to-do list because Rivers people still believe in the sincerity of his administration. Any agreement that does not serve the interest of the people which the Governor was made to sign must be subject to the mandate to provide service and be accountable to the people”, he stated.
Eze Expressed disappointment that Nigerians watched and did nothing by allowing the illegalities in Rivers State to happen successfully.
“If Nigerians continue in this line of docility, it will impact very negatively on the country and her democracy particularly as 2027 draws closer”, he lamented.
He said that the deafening silence of Governor Fubara on the matter was understandable as he was helpless particularly given the fact that it was a fight by the federal government against an individual, the Governor, who has no control over any state apparatus, particularly the security architecture.
“Even as the sins that Tinubu and Wike have committed against Rivers State and her people are unforgivable, let us believe that September 18 will mark an end to the nonsense in Rivers State, so that the people can breathe fresh air once again as they have suffocated for so long under the emergency rule which has brought them nothing but anguish and gnashing of the teeth, Eze stated.
