By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
RIVERS SOLE administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas joined his first National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, amid protests, assembly probe, and political unrest following the incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s suspension.
Ibok-Ete Ibas, the retired naval chief appointed to steer Rivers State through emergency governance, appeared at the high-level session despite ongoing political turmoil in the state and days after he failed to appear before a House of Representatives committee probing emergency governance in Rivers.
Ibas, who took charge of Rivers in March, sat among governors and deputy governors from across the federation as Vice President Kashim Shettima presided over the meeting.
His presence marked a notable moment since the federal declaration of emergency in Rivers—an extraordinary intervention triggered by months of escalating political tension.
On March 18, President Bola Tinubu suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all state assembly members for six months. Ibas was installed as the sole administrator with sweeping powers.
Several key state leaders, including Governors Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Alex Otti (Abia), and Bassey Otu (Cross River), also attended the NEC meeting.
Oborevwori, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress, delivered the opening prayer at Shettima’s request.
During the gathering, the Council observed a moment of silence and offered prayers for victims of recent killings in Plateau, Benue, and Kwara states. Shettima expressed condolences to affected families, calling for national unity amid grief.
While Ibas participated in the NEC session, he notably did not attend the House of Representatives ad hoc committee hearing set for the same day.
The committee, chaired by House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, was constituted on April 15 to monitor governance and ensure rule of law in Rivers.
Ibas had previously requested the April 17 hearing be rescheduled to April 24, but was again absent on Thursday, prompting muted frustration from the committee. Ihonvbere declined to comment.
Since taking over the state’s affairs, Ibas has drawn fire from political and civil society groups.
His decision to suspend all political appointees of the ousted governor has sparked protests and condemnation, particularly from the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), which has accused him of deepening the political crisis rather than restoring order.
Despite mounting pressure, Ibas remains the federal appointee overseeing Rivers under emergency rule.
Meanwhile, Fubara has reportedly reached out to President Tinubu, meeting him last week in London in a bid to negotiate a return or at least ease the political deadlock.
