- Safiu Kehinde
Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, has on Sunday held thanksgiving ceremony in church as his six-month tenure nears an end.
As seen in a post shared on X, Ibas arrived at the church alongside his wife, Theresa Ibas, with the couple sitting in the front row at the thanksgiving service.
Ibas’ short stint in power began with his appointment by President Bola Tinubu on the 18th of March following the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers as well as the suspension of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
NPO reported that Tinubu had declared the state of emergency over the lingering political unrest between Fubara and the state lawmakers loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
The President’s declaration of the emergency rule was further necessitated by the pipeline explosion at Bodo community and impending plot by the pro-Wike lawmakers to impeach Fubara.
The explosion, which was allegedly orchestrated by suspected militants, had further raised concerns over the state’s unresolved political crisis involving the Martin Amaewhule-led state Assembly and Fubara.
Shortly after holding an emergency closed-door meeting with security chiefs led by the Chief of Defense Staff, Christopher Musa, Tinubu declared the emergency rule in a nationwide broadcast with the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the Rivers House of Assembly announced by the President.
In Fubara’s stead, Tinubu announced the appointment of Ibas as the state’s administrator.
The development was however met with mixed reactions with some members of the public supporting the President’s decision while others, including activists and opposition figures, labelled the emergency rule and Fubara’s suspension unconstitutional.
Irrespective of the agitations, Ibas was sworn-in by the President.
Coupled with the restoration of peace in the state, Ibas tenure was also marked with the conduct of the local government election in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling which declared the initial election conducted by Fubara as void.
Meanwhile, Fubara had settled his differences with Wike following another intervention by Tinubu.
The suspended governor is tipped to return on the 18th of September when Ibas tenure officially comes to an end.