Rivers: Ibas’ appointment of LG administrators in order — APGA chieftain

…says Tinubu gave Rivers administrator a blank cheque

A chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chekwas Okorie, has said the dissolution of the local government council chairmen in Rivers State and appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of the state by the sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) should take no one by surprise.

Okorie made the submission in a telephone interview with Tribune Online.

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The APGA chieftain noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had usurped the power of the National Assembly to oversee the affairs of Rivers State, and the sole administrator under emergency rule is answerable to no one but President Tinubu.

He said, “The President gave the signal when he appointed him sole administrator and removed the legislative powers from the National Assembly.

“He gave Ibas the blank cheque so that he can run the government. He can only refer to the Presidency for approval.

“We don’t know whether the approval is by phone call or memo.

“Obviously, there is no sign that Tinubu will return Rivers to democracy even in six months.

“How can a sole administrator not make recourse to the National Assembly? It is shameful what is happening under the Tinubu administration. Coming from a man of his democratic credentials is worrisome.”

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