As protests heralded the resumption of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers state six months ago, so also protests marked his exit from Brick House at the expiration of the emergency rule in the state.
Recall that Simplified women of Rivers state mounted a huge protest at the Isaac Adaka Boro Park in Port Harcourt against the presidential declaration of emergency rule in the state on the very day, March 20, 2025 that Ibas resumed duties at the Government House.
Such anti emergency rule protests lined up by Rivers people were only aborted at the intervention of the suspended governor.
Again, six months after, Sole Administrator Ibas is leaving the state amidst protests from various groups for non payments of salaries, allowances and entitlements, inspite of the fact that he claimed to have saved nearly five billion Naira into the state coffers.
A near pandemonium scene was averted at the Government House in Port Harcourt in the wee hours of his departure on September 17, 2025 when his own security aides were reported to have loudly demanded for the payment of their entitlements.
Thescale.com.ng gathered that it took the intervention of Ibas Chief of Staff and other top security officers in the Government House to calm the situation.
A viral video online indicates that not only his security aides clamoured for the payment of their allowances, but his other aides and appointees as well may have also joined the fray. In the video, protest shouts filled the air as aides and even some of his security details wailed openly, accusing Ibas of trying to “sneak away” with Rivers State’s wealth while leaving them empty-handed.
Our Correspondent observed that Coaches, officials and athletes from the Rivers State Sports Council were gathered in front of the Government House protesting over their unpaid entitlements after their participation at the National Sports Festival held recently in Ogun State.
Our Correspondent, who also visited the State Secretariate and Diete Spiff Sports Centre, venues of ongoing verification exercises for Pensioners and local government workers saw workers and pensioners with muffled faces protesting against the non payment of their August salaries.
Although, we could not immediately confirm the veracity of the viral video, reliable sources claimed that Brick House was calm this morning. “No agitation by aides of the administrator; Ibas is going about his normal duties . . . Please discard fake news spreading round of disquiet in Govt House.”
Nevertheless, news of President Tinubu’s abrogation of the emergency rule broke on the heels of the viral video amidst demands that Ibas render detailed account of his stewardship in the state within the six months.
All efforts to contact his spokesman for comments proved abortive as at press time.
