By Suleiman Anyalewechi
An advocacy group ,the Civil Rights Watch, CRW, on Thursday, April 24, 2025, cautioned the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok- Ete Ibas, against the resort to intimidation and suppression of the people.
It warned that no kind of veiled threat will deter the people from exercising their fundamental human rights to peaceful protests, or engaging in any other legitimate means of ventilating their disaffection with the imposition of an unconstitutional arrangement on them.
The CRW cautionary note is coming against the backdrop of the Sole Administrator’s recent warning to youth and women groups protesters demanding for the restoration of democratic institutions in the state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Hector Ighikiowubo, his Media Aide, Admiral Ibas cautioned protesters against testing his will, insisting that the state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu granted him sweeping powers to deal with any situation that may threaten the peace of the state.
“The fact that people are able to protest speaks to the Administrator’s level of tolerance. If you check the gazatte, it grants him sweeping powers. But he has exercised restraint.
“These protests are testing his will. We urge Rivers residents to be restrained and allow peace to reign. All hands must be on deck to restore democratic institutions”, Admiral Ibas stated.
But in a statement issued on Thursday by Segun Adekunle its President, the CRW, condemned Ibas’ warning as tyrannical, reckless and unbecoming of a person charged with the duty of restoring normalcy in Rivers State.
The group particularly took exception to the Sole Administrator’s description of the spate of protest marches against emergency rule as ” a test of his will.
According to CRW, declaration of State of emergency in the State does not translate to the people being under martial law, noting that the constitution of Nigeria, which is what is still applicable in Rivers State, allows for peaceful assembly and association.
“This isn’t a military rule. Nigeria is not under martial law. The constitution allows for peaceful assembly, and any attempt to criminalize, or threaten such activities is illegal.
“Ibas’ veiled threats to use ‘sweeping power’ is nothing short of declaration of war on democracy.
“The women protesting in Rivers state are not criminals. They are mothers, market women, teachers, citizens who have taken their destinies in their own hands to demand what is right; that the man elected by the people governs in peace”, the CRW noted.
The group advised the authorities to rather pay attention to the security threats posed by terrorists in different parts of the North instead of dissipating energy on innocent and harmless Rivers state protesters demanding for the restoration of democratic institutions.
“This country is battling real threats in Benue and Plateau states where terrorists have turned communities into graveyards. Yet the Sole Administrator of Rivers State believes that the real enemy is unarmed women marching peacefully for democracy.
“Under Ibas’s reign as Sole Administrator, Rivers state has witnessed illegal removal of statutory appointees, clampdown on Local Government Councils ,and now public threats to peaceful citizens. This is not governance, but despotism”, CRW noted.
The group, therefore, called on the Federal Government, particularly the National Assembly to call Admiral Ibas to order before Rivers State will descend into chaos and anarchy.
According to the civil society group, the unfolding events in Rivers State is a potential threat to the country’s fragile democracy.
“If unelected officials feel emboldened to act like overlords in any part of this country, then the very idea of Nigeria as a constitutional democracy is under siege. President Bola Tinubu must act now”, the CRW insisted.
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