By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
PRESIDENT BOLA Tinubu has officially sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Retd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The brief but significant ceremony took place at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, attended by key government officials.
The appointment follows the President’s declaration of a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, a move aimed at addressing the protracted political crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Citing security concerns and governance challenges, President Tinubu emphasized that federal intervention was necessary to prevent further instability.
Among the dignitaries present at the swearing-in ceremony were Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior government aides.
Vice Admiral Ibas, born on September 27, 1960, brings extensive leadership experience to his new role. Commissioned into the Nigerian Navy as a sub-lieutenant in 1983, he held several command positions before being appointed Chief of Naval Staff by President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2015, a role he served in until 2021.
Following his retirement, he was appointed Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, where he served from 2021 to 2023.
As Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibas is tasked with overseeing governance and security operations in Rivers State throughout the emergency period.
His leadership is expected to stabilise the state’s political and security landscape until democratic governance can resume.
The declaration of a state of emergency has drawn mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a necessary measure while others argue it threatens democratic principles.
Nevertheless, the federal government maintains that the decision prioritises the safety and stability of Rivers State.
