BREAKING: Tinubu appoints ex-Naval Chief as Rivers administrator

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as the Administrator of Rivers State, following the State of Emergency declaration in the state.

The president made the decision in response to the vandalization of oil pipelines and the failure of ex-Governor Siminalayi Fubara to engage with the federal government amid the crisis.

With this appointment, civilian governance in Rivers State is effectively suspended, and the retired naval officer will oversee the administration of the state until further notice.

“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 Ibokette 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 their constitutional mandate.

“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.

“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.”