Former naval chief Admiral Ibokette Ibas was sworn in as the Administrator of Rivers State at the State House, just hours after President Bola Tinubu appointed him to oversee the oil-rich state.
The swearing-in ceremony followed a brief meeting between Ibas and the president on Wednesday afternoon.
Tinubu had announced the appointment of the retired naval officer during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, in which he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, Tinubu justified his decision by stating that he could no longer stand by and watch the escalating political crisis in the state without intervening.
However, the suspension of Fubara and other elected officials has been widely criticized and rejected by several prominent Nigerians, legal experts, and political groups. Among those opposing the move are Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who argue that the action undermines democracy.
On the other hand, the emergency rule has been welcomed by the pro-Nyesom Wike faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule. They have accused Governor Fubara of violating a Supreme Court ruling regarding the political crisis in the state.
Ibas previously served as Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021. He hails from Cross River State, where he received his early education before joining the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979.
Over his distinguished naval career, he rose through the ranks to the highest levels of leadership. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
In recognition of his service, former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as Chief of Naval Staff and later honored him with the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022.
