Following the suspension of Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, for six months, President Bola Tinubu has appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as the Sole Administrator of the state, effective immediately.
Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, will oversee governance and restore order in the state amid political instability.
Ibas brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served in various capacities in the Nigerian Navy, including as Commander of the Naval Air Base, Ojo, and Chief of Logistics.
His appointment is seen as a move to restore stability and ensure the security of lives and property in Rivers State.
As Sole Administrator, Ibas will have the authority to formulate necessary regulations, subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council and promulgation by the President. However, he will not have the power to enact new laws.
Persecondnews reports that the suspension of the governor, deputy and the lawmakers was announced in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday evening, citing the need to address the political and governance crisis in the state.
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months,” President Tinubu said in the broadcast.
Tinubu assured Nigerians that the declaration of a state of emergency and the appointment of a Sole Administrator were necessary steps to address the extraordinary challenges facing Rivers State.
He reiterated that the intervention was not intended to undermine the democratic process but to restore the foundations of good governance and ensure the well-being of the people of the state.
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