Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas

Barely 24 hours after declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu has met with the newly appointed sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. 

Ibas arrived at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa at approximately 12:48 pm (local time) on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Tinubu announced the emergency measure, suspending Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial six-month period. The President cited “prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats” as reasons for the decision.

The crisis in Rivers State stems from a protracted power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

As part of his directive, Tinubu appointed Ibas to oversee the state’s administration until stability is restored. Ibas, who previously served as the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has now assumed leadership of the state’s affairs.

Announcing the decision in a national broadcast, Tinubu stated:

“Having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State, the governor and deputy governor have 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.”

He further declared:

“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 Ibok-Étè 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.”

The meeting between Tinubu and Ibas signals the beginning of a new administrative phase in Rivers State under emergency rule. {The Nation}