Tinubu appoints retired naval chief Ibas as Rivers state administrator

• The president suspended the Rivers governor, deputy governor, and state assembly members amid the deepening political crisis.
• The judicial branch in Rivers state remains unaffected and will continue discharging its constitutional responsibilities without any interference.

President Bola Tinubu has nominated retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas for the position of Rivers state’s administrator, entrusting him with governance responsibilities within the region.

Ibas, who previously held the role of chief of naval staff, has been appointed to oversee the state’s affairs for a minimum duration of six months.

The newly appointed administrator of Rivers served in the capacity of chief of naval staff from 2015 until 2021 and was also Nigeria’s ambassador to Ghana.

Earlier on Tuesday, the president officially proclaimed a state of emergency in Rivers state in response to ongoing political turmoil and persistent instability in the region.

Additionally, Tinubu took action by suspending the sitting governor, his deputy, and the members of the Rivers state house of assembly from their duties.

He stated that while the administrator would govern, no new laws would be enacted, although regulations could be issued with federal approval and presidential endorsement.

The president further clarified that the judicial sector of Rivers state remains unaffected and will continue fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities without any interference or disruption.

Tinubu asserted that his intervention, officially documented in the federal gazette and submitted to the national assembly, is intended to reinstate peace and stability in Rivers.

“The administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found 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,” the president said in a televised broadcast.

“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.”