Raphael Kanu
As Rivers State prepares for the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara on September 18, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the sole administrator who governed under a six-month state of emergency, has defended his tenure, declaring that he fulfilled President Bola Tinubu’s mandate and stabilised the state.
Speaking at a thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt on Sunday, Ibas said his administration had restored calm and laid the foundation for reconciliation in the oil-rich state.
“Six months ago, Rivers stood at a crossroads, torn by divisions, instability, and broken trust. By God’s grace and with the support of Mr. President and all of you, we worked through those difficult days together,” he said.
“The seeds of reconciliation have been planted, but they need nurturing to take root. Rivers cannot afford another season of division and acrimony.”
But opposition parties rejected his claims, describing his tenure as unconstitutional and demanding a probe into his management of state resources.
The Peoples Democratic Party said Ibas’ administration was “a waste of time and a violation of democratic norms.” PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, insisted the handover must include a full account of finances.
“Six months of illegality should be corrected and documented. Rivers people did not elect him, yet he presided over their resources. That period must be thoroughly investigated,” Osadolor told newsmen.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party dismissed the emergency rule as “an exercise in futility,” while Labour Party spokesperson Tony Akeni accused Ibas of serving as a placeholder for President Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
“His only achievement is standing in for his new masters. The plot was to emasculate Fubara and divert Rivers’ revenues,” Akeni alleged.
Civil society groups, including the Ijaw Youth Council and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, also called for probes, accusing Ibas of mismanaging resources and illegally dissolving state institutions. Former Senator Lee Maeba described the intervention as “the lowest point of the Tinubu presidency,” insisting Rivers had lost billions during the period.
In contrast, the All Progressives Congress defended Ibas, praising him for safeguarding citizens’ rights and overseeing peaceful local government elections. APC publicity director Bala Ibrahim said:
“What matters to us is that Rivers people exercised their franchise peacefully and democratically. The rest can only be assessed by the Presidency, which gave him the mandate.”
The six-month emergency rule was triggered by a prolonged feud between Wike and Fubara, which paralysed governance. Tinubu’s March 18 declaration, endorsed by the National Assembly, suspended both the governor and the state assembly amid criticism from PDP governors, who challenged the legality at the Supreme Court.
With Fubara set to return to Government House on September 18, pressure is mounting for investigations into Ibas’ controversial six months in power, as Rivers political actors weigh reconciliation against accountability.