Written by SpringNewsNG Media Limited, March 19, 2025.

In a move that has sparked nationwide debate, President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator of Rivers State. The brief yet significant ceremony took place at the State House in Abuja at approximately 3:00 p.m. and was attended by key government officials, including the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

Ibas arrived at the Presidential Villa at around 12:48 p.m. before taking the oath of office in a ceremony that has effectively placed him at the helm of Rivers State’s administration. The appointment follows President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing a deep-seated political crisis that has rendered governance ineffective.

Crisis and Justification for the State of Emergency

President Tinubu’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the entire state House of Assembly has been met with widespread criticism. However, Tinubu defended his actions, arguing that the prolonged crisis had paralyzed governance in the state.

“With the crisis persisting, democratic governance—which we have all fought and worked for over the years—cannot thrive in a way that benefits the good people of the state,” Tinubu stated during the ceremony. “The state has been at a standstill since the crisis began, preventing its residents from enjoying the dividends of democracy.”

One of the key issues cited by Tinubu was the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly by Governor Fubara on December 13, 2023. The President criticized the move, stating that after 14 months, the Assembly had not been rebuilt, leading to a collapse of legislative oversight in the state.

Failed Mediation and Supreme Court Ruling

Tinubu revealed that he had personally intervened in the crisis to broker peace between the warring factions, but his efforts were ignored. He also acknowledged the attempts of other national leaders and stakeholders who sought to mediate the dispute, to no avail.

Adding legal weight to his decision, Tinubu referenced a Supreme Court ruling delivered on February 28, 2025. The ruling, which addressed several consolidated appeals related to the Rivers State crisis, underscored the unconstitutional actions of Governor Fubara and his failure to uphold the rule of law. The court’s verdict emphasized the necessity of a fully functional government comprising the executive, legislature, and judiciary, all of which had been compromised in Rivers State.

Concerns Over Militancy and Governance Breakdown

Another critical concern highlighted by Tinubu was the governor’s alleged failure to address rising militancy in the state. The President accused Fubara of not condemning militant groups that had threatened to attack pipelines and disrupt critical infrastructure in Rivers State.

“Some militants have threatened fire and brimstone against the governor’s perceived enemies, yet he has not disowned them,” Tinubu stated. “Apart from that, both the House of Assembly and the governor have failed to work together. Neither seems to realize that they are in office to serve the peace and good governance of the state.”

Reactions and the Road Ahead

The decision to impose a sole administrator in Rivers State has sparked mixed reactions. While some political analysts view it as a necessary step to restore order, others have condemned it as an overreach of executive power. Opposition parties and civil society groups have called for transparency in the administration of the state under Ibok-Ete Ibas and urged the federal government to outline a clear roadmap for restoring democratic governance.

As Rivers State enters this new chapter under military-retired leadership, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on the unfolding events, with many hoping for stability and a return to democratic governance in the near future.