Newly appointed Sole Administrator for Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.), has vowed to restore stability and security in the state following recent political turmoil.
“We know the circumstances that led to why we are here and Mr. President made it clear in his broadcast,” Ibas stated while addressing reporters after his swearing-in ceremony at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday.
“If the main issue is that of maintaining law and order in the state, I think for any meaningful activities to take place in Rivers State, that is the utmost task that I have.”
The former naval chief also assured that he would collaborate with key stakeholders to foster peace and security.
“I will work together with other stakeholders to ensure that we bring peace, order, security, and stability to the people and government of Rivers State and Nigeria at large,” he emphasized.”
President Bola Tinubu, in a national address on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the entire Rivers State House of Assembly for six months. The president justified his actions under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, asserting that he could not allow the escalating political crisis in Rivers to persist unchecked.
Following this declaration, Tinubu appointed Ibas, who previously served as Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021, as the state’s sole administrator.
However, the suspension of Fubara and other elected officials has sparked widespread criticism from various political and legal figures. Among those who have condemned the move are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, senior lawyer Femi Falana, as well as organizations such as the Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
Conversely, lawmakers aligned with former Governor Nyesom Wike have welcomed the emergency rule, arguing that Fubara had violated a Supreme Court ruling regarding the state’s political situation.
