Photo: Many faces of Vice Admiral Ibas
By Austin Manekator
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing the prolonged political crisis destabilising the oil-rich state’s governance. In a national broadcast, the President announced the immediate suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
The president, who appointed a military administrator, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd), to oversee the affairs of the state during this period, joined a long list of Nigerian presidents who have suspended elected governors. Tuesday’s declaration is the first time a state of emergency is declared in the country, 11 years after President Goodluck Jonathan suspended the elected governor of Adamawa State in 2013.
In 1962, Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa suspended the government of the Western Region following political unrest. Four years later, in 1966, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi imposed emergency rule after the first military coup.
In 1983, President Shehu Shagari declared an emergency in Kano State due to political violence. Olusegun Obasanjo toed that path 23 years later, he suspected Governor Ayodele Fayose in 2006, after declaring and emergency rule in Ekiti, just two years after Joshua Dariye was suspected in Plateau due to ethnoreligious conflicts and political instability.
More recently, President Goodluck Jonathan declared states of emergency in Borno, Yobe, Plateau, and Niger states in 2011, followed by another in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states in 2013, to combat the Boko Haram insurgency.
The declaration in Rivers State has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters argue that it was a necessary step to prevent further chaos, while critics see it as a dangerous precedent for federal intervention in state affairs. Legal experts point to constitutional provisions that allow for emergency rule but stress the need for transparency in its implementation.
The federal government has outlined plans to stabilize the security situation, facilitate political reconciliation, and eventually restore democratic governance. With Rivers State now under emergency rule, all eyes are on how the situation unfolds and whether the federal intervention will truly bring peace or deepen the existing crisis.
Profile: Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas, Sole Administrator of Rivers State
- Appointment Date: March 18, 2025
- Context: In response to the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State
- Governor Siminalayi Fubara suspended for six months
- Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) appointed as the sole administrator
- Presidential Statement:
- Ibas to oversee state affairs in the best interest of Rivers State citizens
- The judicial branch unaffected by the declaration
About Vice Admiral Ibokette Ekwe Ibas:
Ibas began his education at Nko Primary School in 1966, finishing at Big Qua Primary School in Calabar in 1971. He then attended Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar from 1972 to 1976 and furthered his studies at the School of Basic Studies Ogoja from 1977 to 1979 before joining the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979.
Born: September 27, 1960, in Nko, Cross River State
- Military Career:
- Served as the 22nd Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) from 2015 to 2021
- Retired Vice Admiral with extensive naval experience
- Education:
- Primary: Nko Primary School, Big Qua Primary School, Calabar
- Secondary: Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar; School of Basic Studies Ogoja
- Nigerian Defence Academy (1979)
- Military training in India, USA, and Pakistan (including qualifications in underwater and amphibious warfare)
- Master’s in Defence and Strategic Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
- Key Military Positions:
- Held numerous leadership roles, including Commanding Officer at NNS Aradu, NNS Siri, and NNS Ambe
- Director of Maritime Warfare at Armed Forces Command and Staff College
- Chief of Logistics, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command
- Chief of Naval Staff from 2015-2021
- Honours and Recognition:
- Conferred with Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022Member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and Nigerian Institute of Management
- Alumni of Harvard Kennedy School
Professional Development:
- Attended international seminars and exhibitions in Israel, London, and the United States
Ibas brings extensive leadership and strategic experience to his new role as Rivers State administrator.
