By Funmilayo Akinyemi
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ibokette Ibas as Administrator of Rivers State.
He will serve for an initial six months.
His appointment followed the suspension of the Governor of the State, Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu and the State House of Assembly, consequent upon the declaration of a state-of-emergency by the President.
Ibas is a retired Vice Admiral Ibokette of the Navy.
Tinubu charged him to do his utmost to restore law and order in the State.
While he is free to formulate regulations he may dim necessary to run the State, to be approved by the Federal Executive Council, he, however, will not make new laws.
“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,” Tinubu said.
