President Tinubu Swears In Sole Administrator for Rivers State

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as the sole administrator of Rivers State. The brief swearing-in ceremony took place on Wednesday at the State House, witnessed by key government officials including the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, and the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

This development follows President Tinubu’s declaration of a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday, March 18. The President cited worsening political tensions and security concerns stemming from the ongoing standoff between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly, despite a prior Supreme Court ruling. He emphasized that the emergency measures were necessary to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order in the state.

Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas brings decades of experience to the new role. Born on September 27, 1960, he began his military career in 1983 when he was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in the Nigerian Navy. He rose through the ranks and served in several command positions before being appointed Chief of Naval Staff by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, a role he held until 2021. Following his retirement from the Navy, Ibas served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana from 2021 to 2023.m