The former Chief of Naval Staff and immediate past Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana, Rear Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas (Rtd) was on March 19, 2025 sworn in by President Bola Tinubu as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State amidst Condemnation and rejection across the country.
Our news crew gathered that the brief swearing-in ceremony was attended by senior government officials and other topshots of the administration at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The new sole administrator reportedly told newsmen, shortly after the event that he would prioritise peace and security in the state as well as subordinate his personal interests below that of the state.
Admiral Ibas’s appointment came on the heels of the state of emergency declared by President Tinubu, which led to the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a decisive move aimed at restoring order and governance in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state on Tuesday, 18th March 2025.
The declaration came after months of escalating political unrest and a failure by the state’s leadership to resolve the lingering political crisis in the state, including the continued suspension of the state’s Legislature.
In a 7 pm national broadcast on Tuesday March 18, 2025, the president expressed deep concerns about the ongoing political crisis that had engulfed the state in the last 15 months. “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 latest security reports made available to me show that there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them.
“In the circumstance, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of Section 305 of the Constitution to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State,” Tinubu stated in the broadcast.
He clarified in the broadcast that the judiciary remains unaffected and will continue to operate as mandated by the constitution. He also emphasized that while the new administrator cannot enact new laws, he is empowered to formulate necessary regulations—subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council and promulgation by the President.
Reactions
Angry reactions have continued to trail the president’s declaration with many describing it as unconstitutional and an affront on the Ijaws. Infact, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the umbrella body of Ijaw people worldwide has condemned the declaration and warned that nothing untoward should happen to their son.
Prof Benjamin Okaba, INC President, in a statement widely circulated in Port Harcourt and the social media stated: “We have seen right from the beginning that the declaration of state of emergency was one of the options Wike was looking at if the judiciary could not remove him quickly, and if the House of Assembly was unable to take him off. The last option he has is to create a chaotic situation so that an emergency rule can be imposed on the state.
“So, for Ijaw people, we are not too happy because we feel that this is another slap on us; but again as to what our position will be, it will be deliberated upon in a wider stakeholders meeting that will be convened later.
“The safety and security of Gov Fubara must be guaranteed by the president . . . I’m sure Fubara’s security would be in jeopardy now that the military had taken over the reign of power in the state, we must start now to demand that the safety of our son, Fubara must be sacrosanct and guaranteed at all cost.
“The world is watching and I’m sure this is a clear state of dictatorship in civilian clothing! We need the Ijaws worldwide to rise up and place Mr. President on notice should anything wrong happen to our son, Fubara.”
To Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa state in a statement said he would never support a declaration that would remove an elected governor, adding that it appeared the Ijaw nation was targeted.
Dickson said: “this evening, like all Nigerians, I was taken aback by the broadcast from the president over the political disputes in Rivers State. I do not support the declaration of a state of emergency, especially when that is taken to mean that the Governor and his deputy will vacate their seats for six months.
“I don’t believe that is the intendment of the constitution, and that has been my position on matters like this, even when we had a PDP President. I have always opposed declarations of emergency in states that meant that their governors would vacate their offices and this is no exception.
“I have always had the view that even with the declaration of a state of emergency in a state, the elected government must be protected and need not be removed.”
Afam Osigwe (SAN), President, Nigerian Bar Association condemned the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers state, saying it is unconstitutional, whether it is suspension or summary removal, pointing out that the cries that they want to take over Rivers State are just being played out and it is not good for democracy.
Former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and immediate past Transportation Minister, not only condemned the President’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state but also said it speaks to power grab and urged the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to resist the move.
He is however, not the only one with this opinion in the state. In monitored radio programmes in the state capital, callers to the programmes disagreed with most of the reasons adduced by the president to necessitate an emergency rule, pointing out that Rivers state was calm and peaceful.
Mr Daminatoru Jorges, a political stalwart from Kalabari land was emphatic about the political nature of the declaration and revealed that the FCT Minister, Chief (Barr) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has unfolded plans to install a Kalabari indigene as governor of the state in 2027.
Mr Jorges, who refused picture on print made the revelation in an exclusive chat with Thescale news in Port Harcourt on Wednesday also added: “Wike has promised to install Dr Das George Kelly, current Director General of Border Communities Development Commission (BCDC) as governor of the state in 2027.
“In a blueprint, Gov Fubara and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu would be removed from office and Speaker Martins Amaewhule will act as governor and handover to George Kelly in 2027,” he revealed.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly last Wednesday stood down debates on the president’s declaration when it turned rancourous on floor of the lower chambers. One constitutional requirement is that the national Assembly must give its nod to the President’s declaration within two days if in session and not less than ten days when not in session.
As the National Assembly continues debates on the declaration, it is not known if NASS could muster the required two thirds majority to pass the president’s declaration. If not, the declaration becomes null and void.
