Just one day after declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu has met with Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas, the newly appointed sole administrator tasked with overseeing the state’s governance.
Ibas arrived at the Presidential Villa at approximately 12:48 pm (local time) for the crucial meeting, which comes amid a tense political crisis in the oil-rich state.
On Tuesday, March 18, Tinubu declared the emergency measure, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
In a national broadcast, the President cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as the main reasons for the drastic decision.
The crisis in Rivers State has resulted from an escalating power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The resulting deadlock has paralysed the state’s governance, with no clear resolution in sight.
As part of his emergency declaration, President Tinubu appointed Ibas, who served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, as the administrator to restore order.
Tinubu further clarified that the judiciary in Rivers State would remain unaffected by the emergency rule and continue to function as mandated by the Constitution.
“I have soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State, “The governor and deputy governor of Rivers State have failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation, and it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke section 305 of the Constitution to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State,” Tinubu said in his broadcast.
The President’s declaration has received mixed reactions, with some applauding the move as necessary for restoring peace, while others criticise it as an overreach.
In the wake of the declaration, Ibas’s role is seen as pivotal in stabilising the state and bringing about much-needed peace.
The former naval chief, with his extensive leadership experience, is now tasked with managing the state’s affairs until normalcy is restored.
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