A non-governmental organisation (NGO), on the aegis of PILEX Centre has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is planning through his appointed Sole Administrator for Rivers State to foist Administrators in the 23 Local Government Councils in Rivers State.
The Centre advised Tinubu and the Sole Administrator to exercise restraints in their unlawful meddling into the administration of Rivers State.
This was as PILEX Centre totally condemned in very strong terms what it described as the unrefined and unlawful interferences of the federal government with the administration of Rivers State.
The Centre said that in pursuit of the political vendetta, the Sole Administrator relieved the Head of Service of Rivers State of his duty and announced a replacement and also appointed an ally of Nyesom Wike in the person of Prof Ibibia Worika, as the new Secretary to the State Government.
PILEX Centre particularly said that the interference is in such an incautious manner that smacks of a perceptible taste to heat-up the polity, build tension and project the state in the light of a crisis-ridden sub-national territory.
This was as PILEX Centre said that based on credible information, there are plans by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, to appoint Administrators for the 23 Local Government Councils of the state.
The Centre therefore called on Rivers people to resist the ploy of the Administrator to foist another class of undemocratic leadership on them.
These were contained in a statement by Courage Nsirimovu Esq., coordinator of the PILEX Centre, who noted that the plan is part of the gimmick contrived by the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to surreptitiously yield control of the third tier of government in Rivers State to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in furtherance of their odious objective.
PILEX Centre said; “We are aware the Sole Administrator, appointed by President Tinubu is not responsible to the people of Rivers State and therefore, every step he takes is geared towards satisfying the objective of defeating democracy, silencing the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and advancing the selfish, private vendetta of the President and his cohorts at the expense of the suffering people of Rivers State.
“It is important to stress that Prof. Worika is an ardent loyalist of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. He was Chairman of a delegation of Okrika people who organized a civic reception in honour of the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, for influencing the appointment of one their own – Boma Iyaye as Executive Director in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution explicitly states that the system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is guaranteed under the constitution.
“One therefore wonders where President Tinubu and his illegitimate Sole Administrator derive the powers to indulge in the action they have resolved to take.
“While Nigerians have continued in protest against the suspension of democratic governance in Rivers State and the consequential appointment of a Sole Administrator thereof, as unconstitutional, it is saddening that the said Sole Administrator whose appointment is illegal is wont to commit another illegality by planning to unlawfully appoint Sole Administrators for the local government councils.
“This is a clear instance of illegality breeding illegality, and it is all shades of wrong and portends grave danger to our democracy and the peace we enjoy in Rivers State,” it said.
PILEX Centre emphasised that the Supreme Court ordered that a proper election should be conducted, stressing that such an election can only be done by a legitimate government and not an illegitimate administration,” it said.
