President Bola Tinubu has nominated Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the administrator of Rivers state.
Ibas, a former chief of naval staff, will oversee the state’s affairs for a minimum of six months.
The newly appointed Rivers administrator previously served as chief of naval staff from 2015 to 2021 and was also Nigeria’s ambassador to Ghana.
Earlier on Tuesday, the president declared a state of emergency in Rivers state due to ongoing political crisis and instability.
Tinubu also suspended the governor, deputy governor, and state assembly members.
He stated that the administrator will govern the state without enacting new laws but may introduce regulations, which must receive approval from the federal executive council and presidential endorsement.
Additionally, he clarified that the judicial arm of Rivers state remains unaffected and will continue its constitutional functions.
“The administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the president for the state,” Tinubu said.
“This declaration has been published in the federal gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the constitution.
“It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers state in particular and Nigeria as a whole.”
