19th March 2025, NewsOrient, News, Law And Society, Governance And Development
Source Channels Television/Photo Caption: President Bola Tinubu swears in Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as sole administrator for Rivers State in Abuja on March 19, 2025

There is high wire tension in Rivers State as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu swore in Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State this afternoon, just hours after declaring a state of emergency in the oil rich State..

Ibas, a retired Chief of Naval Staff of Nigeria, was sworn in at the State House, as the President declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and announced suspension of democratically elected Governor Simi Fubara and his deputy.

The swearing in ceremony was performed by Mr President after a short meeting with Ibas in Abuja, today, Wednesday 19th March 2025.

NewsOrient reports that Tinubu announced the appointment of the retired naval chief at a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, when he also declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended the democratically elected Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu; and the Rivers State House of Assembly members.

According to President Tinubu, he depended on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to declare the state of emergency, suspend the democratically elected State Governor, the Deputy Governor the State Lawmakers and to appoint a retired Naval Chief as Sole Administrator of oil rich Rivers State as his reaction to the political face-off between Governor Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike over control of Rivers political power and resources.

Recall that before the declaration of the State of Emergency, Tinubu-led Federal Government had flooded the state with truck loads of heavily armed military personnel. Their appearance in the state heightened tension even as State lawmakers who are loyal to Wike commenced an improvement process against Governor Fubara and the Deputy Governor

Soon after the announcement and swearing in of the Sole Administrator, democracy lovers, political leaders and some activists have openly condemned Mr President’s action.

Amongst the leaders who have openly condemned Mr President’s action include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Presidential Candidate of Labour Party Peter Obi, Governor Simi Fubara himself.and activist lawyer Femi Falana SAN

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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