As Rivers State prepares for the return of Governor Siminalayi Fubara on September 18 following the six-month emergency rule in the state, the sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd), has defended his tenure, stating that he fulfilled President Bola Tinubu’s mandate and stabilised the oil-rich state.However, the opposition parties called for an investigation into Iba’s tenure, particularly his management of the state’s resources during his six-month stay in Brick House.The Peoples Democratic Party described Ibas’s six-month administration as a waste of time, declaring it unconstitutional, a violation of democratic norms, and demanding an investigation.
Meanwhile, the New Nigeria Peoples Party dismissed the entire six-month rule under Ibas as an exercise in futility, claiming it lacked legitimacy from the outset.The Labour Party also criticised the emergency rule, alleging it was designed to protect the interests of President Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, rather than those of the people.In contrast to the opposition’s stance, the All Progressives Congress praised Ibas for maintaining peace and upholding the rights of citizens during his time as sole administrator.The party lauded his efforts in ensuring that democratic processes, especially the conduct of local government elections, remained intact, describing his leadership as a stabilising force in a previously tense political environment.Rivers State had been engulfed in political turmoil for nearly two years, largely due to a power tussle between former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, which resulted in a prolonged governance deadlock.In response to the crisis, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on March 18 and appointed Ibas as the sole administrator to manage the state’s affairs during the period.Two days later, on March 20, both the House of Representatives and the Senate endorsed the President’s declaration, effectively suspending Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly away on forced holidays despite widespread public criticism.
