Following the end of emergency rule in Rivers State, declared by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, there are increasing calls for a probe into the six-month tenure of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd).
With the emergency rule lifted, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly officially resumed office on Thursday.
Recall that on March 18, 2025, President Tinubu imposed a state of emergency in the state, which led to the suspension of the governor, his deputy, and all state lawmakers for six months.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
According to President Tinubu, the decision was prompted by a protracted political crisis that had threatened peace and security in the oil-rich state.
The political crisis was birthed by the face-off between Fubara and his predecessor, who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja, Nyesom Wike.
However, during the period of emergency rule, President Bola Tinubu brokered a truce between Governor Fubara and Wike.
With all the parties finally agreeing to bury the hatchet and all other hurdles crossed and the conduct of the August 30 local government election, Tinubu on Wednesday lifted the emergency rule.
While the State lawmakers resumed plenary on Thursday, Fubara is nowhere to be found as of the time of filing this report.
Controversies surrounding Fubara’s suspension
The suspension of the governor and the declaration of the state of emergency in the state had raised some dust with stakeholders antagonizing the move, saying the president has no power to suspend a democratically elected governor.
Some analysts also believed that the move was contrary to the requirements of Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.
The Senate’s approval for the emergency rule also fueled controversy with some stakeholders arguing that the essential requirement of a two-third majority of the 469 legislators of the National Assembly to approve a state of emergency was not followed.
Some lawyers argued that the Supreme Court of Nigeria hitherto held that voice-votes as used by the lawmakers are not acceptable as replacement whenever the constitution specifically provides for the two-third majority.
Similarly, leaders of the Ijaw Youth Council, Eastern Zone, on March 21, dragged the Federal Government before the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Court of Justice, over what they described as illegal suspension of the governor.
The 12 litigants, led by Comrade Ibiso Harry, equally challenged President Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State.
It was reported that the Supreme Court and the ECOWAS court are yet to decide on the matter.
Peace returns to Rivers
Ibas at a Public Lecture titled ‘Good Governance and Democratic Dividends’ held in Port Harcourt on Tuesday said the nearly two years political crisis in the state has been successfully quelled.
He declared that “by the grace of God and with the cooperation of all stakeholders” stability has been restored to the state.
“When we began this assignment on March 18, 2025, our core mandate was to restore peace and stability. By the grace of God and with the cooperation of all stakeholders, we have come this far”, he stated, citing the conduct of the recently concluded Local Government elections.
Corroborating Ibas’s claim, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Ikenga Chibike said there is absolute peace in the state now.
In a chat earlier on Wednesday, the APC spokesperson said:
“I can confirm to you that there is peace in the state right now.”
We are hoping that President Bola Tinubu will take off the emergency rule from the state even if it’s just because of Rivers people”, he said before the President made the announcement recalling Fubara.
Call for Ibas’s probe
Opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Labour Party, LP and the African Democratic Congress, ADC, had on different occasions called for a thorough investigation of Ibas’ tenure.
Those advocating for the probe said the Sole Administrator should be questioned on how the state’s resources were managed during his six-month stay in Brick House.
In an interview with the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mr Leader Sampson, called for Ibas’s probe.
According to the ADC leader, for the purpose of accountability, Ibas “needs to give account of everything that happened within his six months in Rivers State.
“He needs to tell Nigerians what he did with Rivers State people’s money.
“He needs to tell us the projects he executed, the amount of money that came in and the things he did with those monies.
“He should tell us how much came from the Rivers State internally generated revenue and how much he received as Federal Government allocations. If he doesn’t have anything to hide, then he should give an account”.
However, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Austin Okai said Fubara lacked the political will to initiate Ibas’s probe.
According to him, probing Ibas is like probing Wike and President Tinubu’s government
He said, “There is nothing bad in initiating a probe on him but if you observe, you will understand that there were some agreements made between the political godfather and the godson.
“Probing Ibas is like probing Wike and Fubara no longer has such political will.
“Again, it is like the state government trying to challenge the federal authority. It won’t go anywhere.”
Meanwhile, the Rivers House of Assembly has resolved to probe the state’s finances during the six-month rule of Ibas.
This is as it even urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to transmit the list of commissioners’ nominees for screening.
Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, presided over the plenary at the conference hall nestled within the legislative quarters.
The Assembly is still under construction following its demolition months ago by the state government.
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