This afternoon, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially swore in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as the new Sole Administrator of Rivers State. The ceremony took place in the President’s office at Aso Rock and was attended by several key officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; the President’s Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola; and the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The swearing-in occurred shortly before 3 pm.
Earlier, on March 18, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial six-month period. In a national broadcast, the President explained that the decision was driven by the state’s ongoing political instability, constitutional violations, and security concerns. Alongside this, he appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as the Sole Administrator to manage the state’s affairs until stability is restored. Ibas, who served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, will oversee the administration of the state during this period.
