President Tinubu appoints Ex-Naval Chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as Rivers State Administrator
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday in a nationwide broadcast appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.) as the Administrator of Rivers State, as a result of the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state’s House of Assembly.
The President said the action was part of efforts to address the ongoing political and security crisis that have rocked Rivers State for some weeks running.
He, however, emphasised that the judiciary would remain unaffected by the suspension and would continue to carry out its constitutional duties.
Tinubu clarified that Ibas, in his role as Administrator, will not have the authority to enact new laws but will oversee the state’s governance to restore stability.
Tinubu assured Nigerians of the federal government’s commitment to maintaining law and order while ensuring that the state’s governance structure remains functional.
Tinubu said: “In the circumstances, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State, and given that the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State have 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 provisions 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, 18th March 2025, and I so do.
“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.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with its constitutional mandate.
“The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.
“This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution.
“It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.”
Profile of Ibas
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas served and retired as the 22nd Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) of the Nigerian Navy from 2015 to 2021.
Born in Nko, Cross River State, South-South Nigeria, Ibas started his primary school education at Nko Primary School and completed it at Big Qua Primary School, Calabar, in 1971. He attended Hope Waddell Training Institute from 1972 to 1976 and the School of Basic Studies, Ogoja, between 1977 and 1979. His naval career began at the Nigerian Defence Academy on June 20, 1979, as part of the 26th Regular Course, leading to his commission as a Sub-Lieutenant on January 1, 1983.
