By Emeka Amaefula
VICE ADMIRAL IBOK ETE IBAS RESUMES AS SOLE ADMINISTRATOR OF RIVERS STATE, PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU’S CHARGE
The President of Federal Republic of Nigeria , His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday 18th of March, 2025 after due emergency consultation of his cabinet , leadership of the National Assembly Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker Federal House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abas announced Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator of Rivers state. For President Tinubu the political crisis in Rivers state defied all democratic solutions after the Supreme Court judgment and all parties were given the tasks of responsibilities as he said in his broadcast “With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy.”
The President in his speech accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of being the one who demolished the House of Assembly on the 1th of December, 2023 “And fourteen (14)months after, not rebuilt same. I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis.”
“On February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers state, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers state as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in very clear terms: ” A government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended. In this case the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. as it is there is no government in Rivers state.”
“The above pronouncement came after a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against the Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Going forward in their judgment, and having found and held that 27 members of the House who had allegedly defected are still valid members of Rivers state House of assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that house of by the 8th Respondent (that is , the Governor) in cohorts with four members”
The major reasons the State of Emergency was declared may not be unconnected to protect major Oil and gas infrastructure located in Rivers state as President Tinubu declared in his Emergency Speech ” Some Militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the Governor who has up till now NOT disowned them. Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together. Both of them do not realize that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state.
“The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers state and the oil pipelines
“With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.
“In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers state and the Governor and deputy Governor of Rivers state having 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, 18th March, 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 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(Rtd.) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state. in this 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 Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal executive Council and Promulgated by the President for the State.
“This Declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National assembly in accordance with the Constitution. It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers state by awakening all the contenders to the Constitutional imperatives binding on all political players i Rivers state in particular and Nigeria as a whole..”
The Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas Rtd hails from Cross river state and a former chief of Naval staff. He flew into Port Harcourt in the evening immediately after the President and Commander-In-Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Declaration was made and broadcast relayed in National Media organs and other information outlets across the country.
————-Emeka Amaefula—-+234(0)8111813069———
