Following Tuesday’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, a move that has elicited fierce and diverse arguments across the country, President Bola Tinubu, Wednesday, swore the sole administrator for the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.), into office.
The brief swearing-in ceremony was performed by President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, at about 3 p.m.
The President’s Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the Principal Secretary to the President, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, witnessed the brief ceremony.
In a move that sent shock waves across the country, President Tinubu, Tuesday night, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
The President, in a nationwide broadcast, cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as reasons for the extraordinary measure.
The crisis, which had paralysed governance in the oil-rich state, stemmed from a power tussle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who has never hidden his disdain for the governor, who he accused of attempting to dislodge his political structure in the state.
Consequent upon the imposition of emergency rule in the state, Tinubu President appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs until normalcy is restored.
Vice Admiral Ibas served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the broadcast, Tinubu announced: “In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State has failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, March 18, 2025 and I so do.
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.”
