President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has officially sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, witnessed by top government officials, including Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, Principal Private Secretary Hakeem Muri-Okunola, and Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga.
The move follows Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday night, which resulted in the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
In a national address, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability, constitutional violations, and security threats as the primary reasons for the extraordinary intervention. The crisis in Rivers has been fueled by a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
“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, March 18, 2025, and I so do,” Tinubu said.
The President emphasized that the judiciary in Rivers State would continue to function, while Ibas would oversee governance to restore order.
Ibas, who served as Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been appointed to oversee the state’s affairs until normalcy is restored.
The development has sparked widespread debate, with some supporting the federal government’s decision while others argue it sets a dangerous constitutional precedent.
More details to follow.
