Administrator Ibas breaks silence on Rivers crisis: “My main task is maintaining law and order in the state”
On the 19th of March 2025, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) took the oath of office as the Administrator of Rivers State at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, officially assuming responsibility for the state.
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His appointment followed the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers due to the rising political crisis, which had affected governance and endangered the peace and stability of the region.
President Bola Tinubu made the decision to place Rivers State under emergency rule for six months, with the primary objective of resolving the political strife that had hindered progress.
In his first statement following the oath-taking ceremony, Ibas outlined his main objective for the period of his administration, emphasizing that maintaining law and order in the state would be his utmost priority.
He stated, “For any meaningful activities to take place in Rivers State, that is the utmost task I have to work together with all other stakeholders to ensure that we bring peace, order, and security and stability to the people and government of Rivers State and Nigeria at large.”
This marks a firm commitment to restore order to a state that has been rocked by continuous political conflict.
Ibas’s statement reflects the seriousness of the situation in Rivers State, which has seen a deepening rift between the political figures in the state.
President Tinubu, in his address, explained that the political crisis between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the incumbent Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, had escalated to the point where it was significantly impeding the delivery of governance and the enjoyment of democratic benefits by the citizens of the state.
The decision to impose emergency rule was not taken lightly. President Tinubu had previously expressed his concerns about the increasing political instability in Rivers, which had reached a level that was preventing residents from enjoying the benefits of good governance, including security, development, and social services.
This intervention aims to restore peace in the state and ensure that normal governance structures can function once again.
