As Rivers State?s emergency rule enters the second month, KUNLE ODEREMI reports on the string of controversies and teasers trailing the activities of the interim tenure of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), a former Chief of Naval Staff.

THIRTY-THREE days after, the proclamation a state of emergency in Rivers State is still generating heated debate, controversy and suspicion. The fit and whiff of anger spewed after the suspension of the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and members of the State House of Assembly shows no sign of ebbing with the belligerent forces enmeshed in claims and counterclaims that culminated in the emergency rule. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), who was the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021, was named as the sole administrator.

President Bola Tinubu, who had on October 31, 2024 intervened in the crisis by calling on the camps enmeshed in the crisis to sheathe their sword and embrace peace in the interest of the state. The relationship between Minister of the Federal capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike and Governor Fubara, hitherto close allies, soon got soured over the appointment of key aides, including commissioners. The crisis led to moves by 24 members of the state House of Assembly loyal to Wike, to impeach Fubara. Prominent persons, including the late leader of the Ijaw Nation, Chief Edwin Clark had described the presidential intervention as not only unconstitutional but also not in the right direction. Clark, the convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said: ?Mr president is the president of Nigeria and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Nigeria and I am one of those giving him that support.?

However, Fubara claimed that the intervention of the president was political and not constitutional, affirming his commitment to the terms of the peace deal and mediation. His explanation followed warnings from various stakeholders that the governor should be more circumspect on the peace initiative. Shortly, the pro-Wike members of the House renewed the threat of impeachment against the governor. Fubara came up with a few things that had transpired that were not within the public space concerning the deal. He said: ?Mr President invited all the parties to Abuja, and came out with a resolution that we should go and implement. That resolution, I am implementing it. It is not a constitutional implementation. It is a political solution to a problem.?

Controversies posers persist

The second decisive intervention by President Tinubu was done on March 18, 2025 via a national broadcast in which he announced the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers. In the broadcast, the President said the Rivers crisis posed a stumbling block to ?democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years.? He accused Fubara of having ?for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023,? and had for 14 months after, not rebuilt same.? The President also said he made ?personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis.? Tinubu recalled that on February 28, the Supreme Court delivered a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers and made some orders, among them, the immediate passing of an Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly which up till now has not been facilitated. He warned that, ?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.?

Justifying the action of the President following criticisms in certain quarters, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) had emphasized the place of symphony among the three arms of government at all times. He said: ?The government stands on the tripod: the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary, and you (the governor) have made the functioning of government impossible. It is not enough for the Executive, to say, we are spending money, even the money you want to spend, the State Assembly must have appropriated it. These are some of the findings that the Supreme Court made. And at the end of the day, the Supreme Court said, or came to a decision, that the governor?s behaviour was like a despot, and that as the situation was, there was no government in Rivers. If there was no government in Rivers, what would we be looking for??

Litigation

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are in the Supreme Court challenging the imposition of emergency rule in Rivers. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has filed a suit against the proclamation of the state of emergency in Rivers. There are sundry suits initiated by either individuals or groups seeking to restore the democratic structures that were suspended by the order of the President imposing the state of emergency in Rivers.

Stumbling block

In the wake of the proclamation of the emergency rule, Fubara had accused the FCT minister of frustrating all efforts at peacefully resolving the crisis. In a press statement signed on his behalf by the sacked Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, the suspended governor claimed that all steps taken to foster peace, unity and stability in the state were frustrated by Wike. He said, ?Since our dear Governor assumed office as your Governor, all his actions and decisions have been guided by his constitutional oath of office and a great sense of duty. Even in the face of the political impasse, he remained committed to constitutional order and the rule of law, putting the interest of our people above all else. This was why, immediately after Mr. President?s intervention to broker peace, we did not hesitate to implement the agreed terms in good faith, including welcoming back commissioners who had previously resigned on their own volition. Furthermore, we moved swiftly to comply with the Supreme Court?s judgment immediately we received the certified true copy of the judgment to return the state to normalcy. These steps were taken not for personal gains but to foster peace, unity and stability in our dear State.? Fubara further alleged that members of the Rivers Assembly, led by the minister, made genuine peace and progress difficult.

Controversies, posers

Rivers has been enmeshed in protests in the last couple of weeks. Women, the youth and other categories of interest groups loyal to either division of the imbroglio have been organising street protests for or against the interim administration or perceived forces behind the emergency rule. One of the posers that surround the interim administration in Rivers concerned when it summoned the suspended governor to the Government House over state matters. Though the authorities later disowned the summons, the report provoked many stakeholders and observers with insinuations that the authority was going out of their brief. The development also created public curiousity and aroused teasers whether the House of Representatives had reneged on its resolution that the activities of the sole administrator, especially on projects should be subject to the approval of the House. It was of the conditions given by the House before it approved the proclamation of the emergency rule in Rivers, whereas the President had said such power would be exercised by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). Ibas has taken other far-reaching decisions without recourse to the National Assembly. He made appointments into strategic positions, including singlehandedly picking sole administrators for the 23 local government areas of the state and approved the reconstitution of suspended boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, whereas, a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had earlier restrained ibas from appointing sole administrators into the local council areas in the state. The order was issued by the Justice, Adamu Turaki Muhammed in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025 filed by Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative led by Courage Msirimovu against Ibas in his official capacity. Justice Muhammed said he found enough reason To grant the prayers and fixed April 14, 2025, for hearing. The court added that the motion ex parte was filed on March 28, with the plaintiff seeking many reliefs, among which was an order of interim injunction restraining the respondent or his agents from appointing the sole administrator or whatever name called for the 23 LGAs. They also prayed for any other order deemed necessary in the circumstance. Ibas equally appointed a new chairman and members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) raising posers over his earlier statement on his mission as an arbiter in the Rivers quagmire.

Ibas summons Fubara

The sole administrator, a few days ago, reportedly summoned Fubara and his deputy, Dr Ngozi Ordu, to appear before him at the Government House in Port Harcourt. He was quoted in a special statement issued and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika that the summons was part of an official inquiry into appointments made during the Fubara administration over the past two years. The full statement titled: Rivers Government Special Announcement, read: ?The Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (retd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, CFR, has formally summoned the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, and his Deputy, Dr. Ngozi Ordu, to appear before him for an inquiry into the appointments made under their administration over the past two years. Sir Fubara is directed to present all relevant documents and records pertaining to appointments, including justifications and procedures followed during his tenure. The session will also serve as an opportunity for the suspended Governor to provide a clear and detailed explanation as to why he believes he should be reinstated to office. Both parties are expected to appear in person as follows: Date: Friday, 18th April, 2025; Time: 10:00am Prompt; Venue: Conference Room, Rivers State Government House, and Port Harcourt. Attendance is mandatory. This process forms part of the Sole Administrator?s ongoing efforts to restore transparency and accountability and lasting peace in the governance of Rivers State.?

Ibas? article of faith

In his maiden address to the citizens of Rivers, the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, had warned that he would not condone lawlessness and any act of violence, declaring that further attacks on oil installations and other critical national assets by any group would not be tolerated. Ibas said his acceptance to his appointment was not hinged on personal ambition but a commitment to bring peace, stability and progress. More importantly, he promised to be neutral, stressing: ?The political impasse nearly two years in Rivers State has paralysed governance, desecrated democratic institutions, threatened security and undermined the economic and social fabric of the state. It has deepened division among the people and cast a show of uncertainty over the future. These are realities we cannot afford to ignore.? Ibas said he was conscious of the task before him and would evoke confidence and trust in his assignment. ?As a son of the Niger Delta, I am one of you and I recognize the weight of this moment, the expectations of the people and the challenges that lie ahead. The uneasy calm that pervades the state is palpable and I feel the weight of families, young and old, businesses are uncertain what the future holds. My mandate is clear, to restore law and order, stabilise the polity and create the necessary conditions for the full restoration of democratic institutions and representation. This is not a task for one man alone,? he stated. He added, ?I come as a servant of the state entrusted with the solemn duty of restoring peace and order so that Rivers State can move forward once again and reclaim its rightful place as the oil and gas capital of Nigeria and I dare say, Africa.?

NASS summons Ibas, set for inquiry

Amid the rising public concern, the House of Representatives summoned Ibas, the Sole Administrator for a detailed interaction aimed at uncovering the true state of governance in the crisis-hit region. The invitation was confirmed in a statement issued by the House spokesman, Honourable Akin Rotimi Jr and it followed the inauguration of an Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight by the House, which pledged to ensure that the emergency governance measures currently in place serve the best interests of the state?s residents.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, leading to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, the State House of Assembly, and other elected officials. Speaking in a national broadcast, Tinubu noted: ?I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties involved.?

Following Tinubu?s proclamation, both the Senate and the House of Representatives ratified the emergency rule in March 2025, invoking constitutional authority granted under the amended 1999 Constitution. A joint committee of both legislative chambers was subsequently established to oversee the state?s affairs during the emergency period. The chairman of the Committee and House Leader, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, stated that the interaction is to determine the state of affairs in Rivers under Ibas? watch since he assumed office. The lawmaker promised that the oversight would ensure the House remained properly briefed in order to uphold transparency in the committee?s work.

Some observers have also raised concern over what they perceived as the individual and collective role of other top federal Government top functionaries over the seemingly intractable Rivers imbroglio. What they described as their comments and body language has elicited concerns about the stance of such officials. There have been claims and counterclaims about the role of the top hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force, the Judiciary, the presidency and the national Assembly on what played out that led to the emergency rule in Rivers. The trouble in the state was exacerbated after the Supreme Court judgment that recognised the 24 pro-Wike members of the Rivers Assembly, as authentic, ordered Fubara to represent the 2025 state budget to the House.

The controversy trailing the state of affairs in Rivers in the last 33 days has also led to the sudden exit of a Chief Magistrate in the state, Ejike George. He resigned from the Rivers State Judiciary on the ground that he was not trained to take directives from a military administration. ?I am simply saying that I cannot take instructions from a military administrator. I cannot,? he said. George faulted the president?s decision, saying that there was no crisis in Rivers State to have warranted the suspension of Fubara and others as well as the introduction of military-style rule. ?It is not fair to the people of Rivers State,? he insisted. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, argued that Ibas had gone outside his brief and should be removed by the Federal Government as Rivers sole administrator. He hinged his demand on the official Federal Government Gazette, which spelt out the duty of Ibas, which stated that, ?The Sole Administrator shall operate on the basis of such Regulations that may, from time to time, be issued by me,? as proclaimed by President Tinubu. Falana said: ?By treating the orders of President Bola Tinubu with contempt, the Sole Administrator has compounded the illegality of his appointment. The Sole Administrator ought to be removed without any further delay. However, a presidential aide, Tunde Rahman, faulted critics over the proclamation of the emergency rule in Rivers. The Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media, Publicity & Special Duties stated: ?Those criticising the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers on the grounds that President Tinubu, while in opposition, strongly condemned the emergency declaration by former President Jonathan in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states conveniently forgot to mention Tinubu?s opposition to former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki who muscled the state assembly and particularly refused to inaugurate the 14 lawmakers who were duly elected by their constituents till the end of his tenure. Tinubu called out Obaseki, labeling him a despot who emasculated the legislature, which is pivotal to the functioning of democracy, the same way he has condemned Governor Fubara.? He noted that the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, has ?added democratic components to the emergency proclamation by announcing regular oversight on the work of the administrator and the National Assembly performing the law-making functions of the Rivers State Assembly as provided for in the constitution.?

On a final note, a principal factor in the Rivers crisis and current FCT minister, Wike noted that his wish was that Fubara was allowed to be removed from office by the legislative arm of government, rather than his being suspended under the emergency rule. Some other stakeholders are raising such teasers as if the actions of the sole administrator do not really amount to stoking the fire or playing the Ostrich. Time will tell! (Sunday Tribune)

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