The dictatorial actions of the Rivers State despot, Ibok-Ete Ibas, to illegally erect military regime’s structures with which to tamper with the state’s funds, without the National Assembly raising an eyebrow, signals President Tinubu’s ploy to permanently hound Fubara out of office and allow the reign of Sole Administrator till 2027
By Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a State of Emergency (SOE) on Rivers state with an instructive statement to wit: “By this declaration, the governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months”. The President’s choice of the caveat, “initial six months,” according to political pundits, indicate that there will be a possibility of an extension of the SOE in the state after the initial six months if the issues that necessitated the proclamation are not resolved.
The Sole Administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has promptly begun his reign of impunity that defies constituted authority. This is happening as there have not been any visible actions by the National Assembly, Tinubu and the actors in the crisis to find an amicable course of compromised resolution. Hence, the Sole Administrator appears to be at liberty to administer the state based on his ruthless disposition in the absence of any guiding laws and statutes. Analysts have insisted that such an aberration is dangerous to the Nigerian state.
For example, on Thursday April 10, 2025 Ibas dropped a bombshell to the effect that his rulership was at the final stage of preparation of a parallel budget he would use to rule the state. This budget which may defy the approval of any oversight authority is expected to run for the whole year.
Ibas said the Appropriation Bill for 2025 was being articulated to provide for critical development concerns in healthcare delivery, education, agriculture and infrastructure.
Ibas also said that the anticipated budget will cater to the creation of more employment opportunities for Rivers people and advance delivery of technology in critical facets of public life.
The administrator gave the hint when he hosted a delegation of Rivers State caucus at the National Assembly, led by Senator Barinada Mpigi, representing Rivers South-East District, at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Those on the delegation included Senator Allwell Onyesoh, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, Hon Dumnamene Dekor, Hon Solomon Bob, Hon Cyril Godwin Hart, Hon Blessing Amadi, Hon. Felix Nwaeke, Hon Kelechi Nwogu, and Hon Victor Obuzor.
Ibas had said, “In addition to our peace building efforts, we are also focused on the economic stability and development of Rivers State.”
“Since the Supreme Court verdict on the state’s budget, we have acted swiftly and decided to put together a new budget that reflects our commitment to healthcare, education, social services, and continued infrastructural development.
“We have worked diligently to ensure that the process is transparent, inclusive, and most importantly expedited. Our goal is to ensure that we do not lose any more time in making the necessary investments that will improve the lives of citizens.
“The budget which is been finalized focuses on creating job opportunities and investing in key sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, and technology. We understand the urgency of this initiative, and we are committed to ensuring that they are implemented without delay.”
Based on the foregoing, analysts have asked who would approve and oversight Ibas budget since there is no House of Assembly in place? To whom will he present the budget to? Can a state have two different budgets in a year under a democratically elected government?
The most recent action of the Rivers State dictator that has put him in the spotlight is the appointment of Sole Administrators to the state’s Local Government Areas (LGAs) against a subsisting court order.
Ibas announced the appointment of the Administrators for the 23 LGAs in the state on Wednesday April 9, 2025. The decision also includes the reconstitution of some Boards of Agencies, Commissions, and Parastatals that had earlier been suspended by the ruler.
According to the statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Worika, the appointments were backdated to take effect from Monday, April 7, 2025.
The administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State include, Mr Okroiyobi Animiete for Abua/Odual LGA, Mr Goodluck M. Ihenacho rules Ahoada East LGA, Mr Promise Jacob for Ahoada West LGA, Dr Tamunotonye Peters has Akuku Toru LGA allocated to him, as a Surveyor Atajit Francis is ruling Andoni LGA. Also appointed were Barrister Ibiapuve Charles to rule Asari Toru LGA as Mr Kingsley N. Banigo rules Bonny LGA, Dr Sokari Ibifuro Francis takes Degema LGA, Dr Gloria Obo Dibiah reigns in Eleme LGA, Barr Franklin P. Ajinwon rules Emohua LGA, while Dr Onyemachi S. Nwankwor is in charge of Etche LGA and Prof. Gospel G. Kpee takes over Gokana LGA.
Others are Mr Isaiah Christian Nobuawu, Ikwerre LGA, Dr Barinedum Nwibere Khana LGA, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, Obio Akpor LGA, Dr Chukwuma Aje, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, Eliel Owubokiri, Ogu/Bolo LGA, Mr Thompson Isodiki for Okrika LGA, Manager Ikechi Wala for Omuma LGA and Mr Fred Apiafi who is in charge of Opobo /Nkoro LGA.
There are still Eletuuo Ihianacho ruling Oyigbo LGA, Dr Sam Kalagbor ruling Port Harcourt LGA as well as Mr Nuka O. S. Gbipah who is the ruler of Tai LGA.
The following people have also been appointed as Chairman and members of the Rivers State Electoral Commission, they are, Dr Micheal Ekpai Odey as the Chairman, with Mr Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Prof Author Nwafor, Prof Godfrey Woke Mbgudiogha, Prof Joyce Akaninwor, Dr Olive A. Bruce, and Prof Chidi Halliday as members
The LGAs administrators’ appointment followed a recent judgment of the Supreme Court, which declared the LG election conducted in the state on October 5, 2024, as invalid.
The development came in less than 24-hours after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt scheduled April 14, 2025, to hear a suit filed by human rights lawyer, Courage Nsirimovu of Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative.
Nsirimovu is seeking to halt the appointment of LG Administrators in the state.
Justice Adamu Mohammed, presiding over the matter did not issue an explicit restraining order, instead directed that the Administrator of Rivers State be put on notice to appear and show cause why the request to stop the appointments should not be granted.
Justice Mohammed said, “I am of the view that it will serve the interest of justice to order the application to put the respondent on notice to appear and show cause why the application (to stop the appointment administrators in the 23 LGAs) should not be granted.”
The Sole Administrator had also ordered the removal of governor Fubara’s photographs anywhere around the government quarters, and replacing same with his own, an action that has sparked vicious criticism. Furthermore, Ibas had approved the reconstitution of some Boards of agencies, commissions and parastatals which he had previously suspended, those he appointed into these boards are allegedly political loyalists and core associates of Wike.
The Rivers State Administrator, in another despotic move, had allegedly announced the recruitment of 10,000 people into the state’s Civil Service. Unconfirmed reports had it that Ibas said the recruitment would comprise of 10,000 qualified graduates and non-graduates.
According to a special government announcement, His Excellency, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, had given the approval for the recruitment exercise which portal would officially open for applications at midnight on Sunday, April 13, 2025. The announcement was allegedly signed by Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika, Secretary to the State Government.
In a statement issued by the acting Head of the state’s Civil Service, Dr Inyingi Brown on Thursday, April 10, 2025, the dictator’s government said the announcement was fake and urged the public to ignore it.
However, a credible source has revealed that the alleged 10,000 jobs is a reality that is meant to flood the Rivers State civil service with citizens that will be donated by elements loyal to Wike. The source hinted that Ibas cannot be trusted when he speaks because he is acting out scripts allegedly handed over to him by Wike. He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Tinubu cannot afford to gamble with the state and its huge resources for the sake of presidential election come 2027. According to the source, the new employees will be deployed to allegedly manipulate elections in Rivers State in 2027.
“I can assure you that the employment issue had been done with; they’re going ahead and nobody can stop Ibas because whatever he does is based on instruction from Wike. In the days ahead you will understand what I’m telling you. The Administrator cannot do anything on his own without their backing and instructions”, the source who craved anonymity said.
On their part, Ijaw leaders and other Rivers notable citizens have been vociferous in criticizing what they refer to as illegal actions of the Sole Administrator which they insisted that it can result in anarchy and destabilization of the entire Niger Delta region. Human rights activist, Jake Epelle called Ibas’ actions “demo-crazy”. “This is simply demo-crazy. They have gone further to denigrate the Constitution. The distortion of democratic process in Rivers State is unbecoming.
“I wonder why the National Assembly is watching. Ibas was not sent there to make appointments. Are they telling us they want to extend the State of Emergency? Are they doing this just to please Nyesom Wike?
“They’re throwing caution to the wind. Let the Rivers youths remain peaceful, we shall win at the end. Now they want to pad their budget to siphon money”.
Alleging that the State of Emergency may have been a ploy to sack governor Fubara from office permanently, Epele said, “Let me say this, every leader, any president or anyone who is truly in a responsible leadership position, will say a thing and keep his words, and I am not saying that the reverse is the case, but however, what they are doing right now doesn’t look to me like suspension but removal, and I think that they should be bold enough to say that they don’t want the democratic systems and values that are attributed to Rivers State to continue.
“Let them state it in unmistakable terms. However, we are watching. There is a limit to what you can do, and I want to use this opportunity to call on the international communities. This is how ethnic cleansing and genocides start. The National Security Adviser needs to watch it.
“Nuhu Ribadu, you’re someone that I respect, and I have had interactions with you. This is when to tell the President the truth about what is happening. Tinubu, you told us that you suspended Governor Fubara, but suspension is not removal. With the trends of things, it looks as though they had probably deceived us that it was suspension, and now they are tilting towards removal”.
The Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) said the situation in Rivers State, if not handled with caution, may force the Ijaw nation to declare its own Republic. President of the IYC, Alaye Theophilus, accused Ibas of violating court rulings as well as using Wike’s cronies as the administrators for the 23 LGAs in the state. Theophilus threatened that Ijaw youths may resort to self-help if Tinubu failed to terminate the State of Emergency and allow democracy to thrive in Rivers State.
“Every appointment or law he (Ibas) makes is automatically illegal. Tinubu has caused democracy to be insulted in Rivers State because there is no law that gives the Sole Administrator the power to make any political appointment.
“The situation in Rivers State may force us to seek the declaration of Ijaw Republic because the Nigerian state has failed.
“We will alert the international community about our intention so that when we start nobody will say we are terrorists.
“The Sole Administrator is busy acting out the script that was given to him from Abuja by those who appointed him. As far as we are concerned, he is occupying that office illegally”.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has cancelled the hosting of its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) which was scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt due to what it referred to as the illegal sole administration going on in Rivers State.
The NBA said it has relocated the AGC from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Enugu, capital of Enugu State as a protest to the State of Emergency imposed on Rivers State by Tinubu.
In a statement signed by the NBA President Afam Osigwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), General Secretary Mobolaji Ojibara, and AGCPC Chairman Emeka Obegolu (SAN), the association hinted that while there was widespread excitement about Port Harcourt being the host city for the Conference, the appointment of a sole administrator who is a retired military officer has created a situation that no longer allows the Garden City to host the conference.
The NBA stated that despite the soaring registration numbers indicating high enthusiasm for the event, the governing style of the sole administrator, which the association described as military-like, has undermined democratic processes. The NBA noted that although the administrator is dressed in civilian attire, his command-style governance disregards constitutional provisions, court decisions, and ongoing litigation.
The statement read, “Indeed, prior to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, registration figures had soared, reflecting the excitement and eagerness of members to attend. However, the unfortunate turn of events in Rivers State has understandably stalled the momentum and affected advanced preparations for the Conference.
“Currently, Rivers State is being governed by a retired military officer, appointed as a Sole Administrator, who operates with a command-style approach that disregards constitutional provisions, court decisions, and pending litigation.
“His actions have undermined democratic institutions and processes, flouting the rule of law with impunity. Though clad in civilian attire, he governs as though the state is under military rule.”
Mounting pressure on Tinubu to call off the SOE in Rivers State, on Friday, April 11, 2025, women from across Rivers State poured out to the streets of Port Harcourt in a massive demonstration calling for the immediate reinstatement of suspended Governor Fubara.
The female protesters filled major thoroughfares in the metropolis chanting solidarity songs for the embattled governor. Their unified message called out President Tinubu to terminate the six-month suspension and restore the democratically elected government they voted for.
The women protesters displayed numerous placards with messages condemning what they described as injustice in the state. Their placards also highlighted alarming claims that patients are dying in hospitals amid the ongoing political crisis.
Critics argue that Ibas has exceeded his mandate, noting that his appointment was intended to restore peace in the troubled state rather than establish new administrative structures at the local government level.
The women’s demonstration represents growing public discontent against the Aso Rock’s meddlesome policies in Rivers State’s governance due to Tinubu’s 2027 second term agenda.
