The appointed Sole Administrator for Rivers State, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd), will not take charge of the state’s affairs until the National Assembly ratifies the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.

Recall in a nationwide address on Tuesday, Tinubu announced that Vice Admiral Ibas would take over the administration of Rivers State, following the escalating political crisis that has seen the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

President Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency and suspend key officials in the state comes amid a political standoff between Governor Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike, now serving as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The declaration aims to restore order and resolve the ongoing crisis that has paralyzed governance in the state.

Despite the President’s declaration, sources who spoke with TheNation indicate that Vice Admiral Ibas is yet to assume leadership in Rivers State. He is expected to do so only once the National Assembly ratifies the state of emergency.

No Military Presence At Government House
Interestingly, despite declaring a state of emergency, according to TheNation, there has been no military presence at the entrance of the Government House in Port Harcourt.

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Unlike previous reports indicating military deployment, investigations revealed no military tanks or personnel were stationed at the Government House gates on Wednesday.

Instead, personnel from the Department of State Security (DSS) were observed patrolling the premises. Two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), which are regularly stationed at the Government House by the police, were seen near the entrance.

However, no additional military units were present to enforce the state of emergency.

The governor reportedly moved out on Wednesday morning, ahead of the anticipated arrival of Ibas, who has been appointed as the new Sole Administrator of the state.

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

The administrator was sworn in following a short meeting with the president on Wednesday afternoon.

Tinubu announced the appointment of the retired naval chief at a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, when he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu; and the Rivers State House of Assembly members.

Tinubu hinged his decision on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he can’t continue to watch the political situation in Rivers escalate without taking any action.

The suspension of Fubara and other democratically elected representatives has been expressly rejected and condemned by many eminent Nigerians, legal luminaries, groups including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association, among others.

However, the emergency rule has been praised by the pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, accusing Fubara of contravening the Supreme Court ruling on the political situation in the state.

Ibas was the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021. He was born in Cross River where he is from and had his early education there.

The new sole administrator went to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979 from where he proceeded to have a successful career in the Navy, rising through the ranks to the very top.

He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management.

President Muhammadu Buhari who appointed him as Chief of Naval Staff conferred him with the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022.

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the appointment of four members of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

The confirmation is sequel to the approval of the report of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs presented by its Chairman, Senator Abdulhamid Malam-Madori

Presenting the report, Malam-Madori listed the members of the PSC to include: Justice Paul Galumje (Rtd), Abdulfatah Mohammed, DIG Uba Ringim (Rtd) and Justice Christine Dabup (Rtd).

He said that in line with its mandate, the committee requested a review of the nominee’s CVs and Provisional Security Clearance Report from the Department of State Security Service.

He said the nominees were subsequently invited for screening exercise to ascertain the suitability for appointment as members of the Commission.

‘In conducting the screening, the committee was guided by section 154 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and the Police Service Commission establishment Act 2001″.

He added that during the screening, the nominees collectively demonstrated competent experience and suitability for appointment as members of the Commission.

“They addressed questions of the urgent need to increase the manpower of the police force and reforms on the best practices in the police force and other contemporary issues affecting the Nigerian Police”.

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Sen. Simon Lalong (APC-Plateau) supported the committee’s report.

In his remarks, Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over plenary, commended the committee calling on the confirmated members of PSC to see their appointment as a call to national service.