President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally sworn in retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator of Rivers State, a move that has intensified national debate over the legality and political motives behind the federal intervention in the state’s affairs.
The swearing-in ceremony took place Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, with top government officials in attendance, including Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
This development follows Tinubu’s controversial declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday night, citing the need to restore order amid a prolonged political crisis.
As part of the emergency measures, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were suspended for an initial six-month period.
Critics have condemned the president’s action as a blatant overreach and a direct assault on democratic governance.
Legal scholars and opposition leaders argue that Tinubu’s suspension of duly elected officials lacks constitutional backing and sets a dangerous precedent for executive power.
By appointing Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff under President Muhammadu Buhari, as the administrator of Rivers State, Tinubu has bypassed existing democratic structures, further fueling speculation that the federal government is executing a politically motivated agenda, particularly in light of the strained relationship between Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.
Civil society groups, legal experts, and opposition parties are calling for immediate judicial review of the emergency declaration and the suspension orders.
Meanwhile, public reactions remain sharply divided, with supporters hailing Tinubu’s decisive action and critics warning that Nigeria’s fragile democracy is at risk.
As tensions mount, all eyes are now on the courts and the potential legal battles that may determine the fate of Rivers State’s governance and the broader implications for federalism in Nigeria.
Credit: Daily Post except headline
