President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, following the declaration of a state of emergency in the state due to ongoing political instability.
The swearing-in ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The event was attended by several key government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi. Also present were members of the Federal Executive Council and senior security officials who witnessed the formal induction of the retired naval officer into his new role.
The appointment of Ibas comes just hours after President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday night. The decision, according to the Presidency, was made to prevent further deterioration of governance and security in the state, following prolonged political tensions that have paralyzed administrative functions.
As part of the emergency measures, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have been suspended from office for an initial period of six months. This move, according to sources within the Presidency, is intended to allow for the restoration of order and governance in the state.
Vice Admiral Ibas, a seasoned military officer, served as Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari. His appointment as Sole Administrator grants him full executive powers to manage the affairs of the state until the crisis is resolved and a constitutional government is reinstated.
In his inaugural speech, Ibas pledged to work closely with security agencies, civil servants, and stakeholders in Rivers State to ensure stability, law, and order. He also called on the people of the state to remain calm and cooperate with authorities as efforts to restore democratic governance progress.
Meanwhile, political analysts and opposition figures have expressed mixed reactions to the federal government’s intervention, with some questioning the legality of the state of emergency and others supporting the move as a necessary step to prevent further breakdown of governance in Rivers State.