President Bola Tinubu has officially sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich state.
Meanwhile, the just-suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, left the government house, Port Harcourt, alongside his family and all security details.
On the new man in charge of the state, the swearing in ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with key government officials in attendance. They include Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and Presidential Principal Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
President Tinubu’s decision to appoint a sole administrator follows his declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday, March 18.
Also, he suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
The political crisis in Rivers State has been brewing for months, fueled by a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The conflict has led to divisions within the state’s government, including the defection of 27 lawmakers from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, further destabilising governance in the oil-rich state.
In a national broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as reasons for the extraordinary measure, invoking Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution to justify the declaration.
Who is Ibok Ibas?
Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd) is a former Chief of Naval Staff who served from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
His appointment is seen as an effort to restore order and stability in Rivers State, with Tinubu emphasising that his role is temporary and aimed at ensuring governance continues uninterrupted.
However, the decision has sparked mixed reactions across the country, with critics arguing that the suspension of elected officials is unconstitutional and amounts to an assault on democracy.
Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and other political stakeholders have called on the National Assembly and governors to reject what they describe as an unconstitutional act.
As of Wednesday afternoon, preparations were underway at the Government House in Port Harcourt to receive Ibas, with military personnel stationed at the premises.
However, many Rivers residents are still coming to terms with the sudden political developments.
The National Assembly has yet to deliberate on the emergency proclamation, leaving the situation tense as Nigerians await further legislative action.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM VERILY NEWS
