Rivers Group Slams Postponement of Meeting with Reps Committee as Bias and Disrespect

The Rivers Progressives Mandate has strongly criticised postponing the scheduled meeting between the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas Ekwe (Rtd), and the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee.

The group described the development as “a bold display of bias, contempt, and vindictiveness against the people of Rivers State.”

In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers Progressives Mandate, Mr Peter Nmerukini, and circulated to media platforms, the group expressed its dismay over what it termed a “sudden and unceremonious postponement.”

“Once again, the Sole Administrator has shown his true colours. The abrupt postponement of a critical meeting between the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee and Vice Admiral Ibas is nothing short of an insult to the intelligence of Rivers people, and a direct assault on transparency, justice, and due process,” the statement read.

The group lamented that no explanation was provided for the postponement and accused the Sole Administrator of avoiding accountability.

“No meaningful reason was given. No transparency demonstrated. Just an arrogant dismissal of a significant engagement that directly affects the future of a state he claims to serve. This is not leadership; this is political puppetry at its worst,” Nmerukini added.

The group noted that it has been three weeks since Vice Admiral Ibas assumed an “illegitimate” position, during which he has made controversial appointments and forged questionable alliances.

“In three weeks, the Sole Administrator has taken steps that reveal his partisanship. By now, one would expect him to have familiarised himself with the terrain and be ready to answer legitimate questions regarding his conduct. Instead, he has evaded the very first opportunity to be held accountable by a statutory committee.”

The group questioned the motive behind the postponement, suggesting ulterior political calculations.

“Why the delay? What exactly is being hidden? Has he not received the full script from those who installed him? Or is he waiting for clearance from political sponsors to decide what narrative to present? Clearly, this is not the conduct of an independent leader, nor one who acts in the interest of Rivers State.”

They further accused the Sole Administrator of favouritism and manipulation.

“He has been seen visiting project sites, holding private meetings, and granting audiences only to individuals cleared by his political backers. That alone shows he is not unfamiliar with the affairs of the state. So why the fear? Why the hesitation?”

“The truth is clear: this postponement is not about adequate preparation; it is about manipulation. It is a calculated attempt to delay scrutiny, manage narratives, and protect the true architects of the illegality perpetuated in the last three weeks.”

The group asserted that the situation is a power grab aimed at returning the state’s institutions into the hands of a few individuals who treat public office as personal property.

“The Sole Administrator is merely a pawn in their game – appointed not to serve Rivers people, but to serve private vendettas and inflated egos.”

Concluding the statement, the Rivers Progressives Mandate accused the administrator of exclusionary and vindictive actions, adding that his refusal to engage with the Ad-Hoc Committee confirms growing fears about the direction of governance in the state.

“His every move reeks of exclusion, vendetta, and a total disregard for the democratic will of the people. By evading the Ad-Hoc Committee, he has validated our concerns: this administration is not interested in peace, but in dismantling what Governor Fubara has painstakingly built through dialogue and justice.”