Tinubu Picks Retired Military Chief, Ekwe Ibas To Take Over From Fubara

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday in a nationwide address on the crisis rocking Rivers State, declared Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state.

Naija News gathered that the President issued the declaration after suspending the Governor of the State, Siminalayi Fubara for six months.

Also suspended by the President according to the provision of the constitution is the Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Tinubu, in his declaration, stated, “In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.

“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.

“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.”