May 29, 2023, witnessed the most peaceful transition from one government to another in Rivers State since the current democratic dispensation in the country began in 1999.
The then Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja handed over the reins of power to his then begotten godson and successor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara at the Yakubu Gowon’s Stadium in Port Harcourt.
Fubara, who hails from the Ijaw ethnic stoic, said to be marginalized in the governance of Rivers, was the chosen one and Wike, his benefactor, choreographed the entire process that enthroned the new governor. The state waxing under the mantra of continuity and consolidation was calm and progressive.
The chemistry between the two leaders was so excellent that Fubara used to address Wike as “our father” and “my leader”. He would hardly make any statement without acknowledging Wike’s role in his emergence.
Nobody including the prophets foresaw the doom that lurked around the state and no one foretold that an immediate intractable political crisis hovered around the oil-rich state.
Moreso, there were no signs that the crisis when it started would be so deep that it would force the state out of democratic governance before May 29, 2025, the first of its kind since 1999.
What started as a mere misunderstanding among members of the same political family was mismanaged and allowed to create rancorous division that kept the state on edge for many months. Politically, the crisis shattered the peace of the state.
It snowballed into a dangerous power play between the executive and the legislative arms of government. The legislature was absolutely sidelined in the governance of the state following misinterpretations of actions and events. People watched as the rule of law was trampled upon in Rivers rubbishing the whole essence of democracy.
The judiciary became busy churning out orders, judgements and counter orders on multiple litigations filed by the warring parties. There was political chaos in the state as both the legislature and the executive remained obdurate in their contrived convictions not to work with each other.
But the Supreme Court waded in and resolved the dispute in favour of the Speaker Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly. Despite the Supreme Court judgement, both arms of government maintained their obstinacy. They started another cat and mouse game deliberately refusing to implement the judgement of the Supreme Court.
Fresh tension began to rear its ugly head in the state and foreboding of violence became stronger following the move by the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach the governor. The act was perfected; Fubara’s removal was imminent and nothing would have saved the situation. Infact, there was confusion and tension in the state.
Militants regrouped in the creeks and threatened fire and brimstone. Different groups issued warnings and vowed to vent their anger on critical national assets especially oil installations and innocent residents should anything happen to Fubara.
In no time, unknown attackers started bombing oil installations. The Trans Niger Delta pipeline was the first target and it went up in flames causing panic among residents. Attacks on other oil facilities were reported in some local government areas in the state.
Acting on security reports and the need to halt the looming dangers and the economic as well as security consequences of the plot to remove the governor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declared a state of emergency and suspended Fubara and the House of Assembly.
He immediately appointed Vice-Admiral lbok Ibas (retd), a former Naval Chief, as the Sole Administrator of Rivers thereby truncating democratic governance in Rivers.
What has Ibas been up to since his appointment? In his presidential brief, Tinubu directed Ibas to oversee the governance of the state for the first six months pending the resolution of the political crisis. He told the administrator not to make laws but to formulate policies for the effective administration of Rivers.
In fact, Ibas at the resumption of his emergency duties in Rivers was greeted with mixed feelings. Unusual calm enveloped the state few days after his appointment. His maiden state broadcast captured the essence of his mission.
Addressing Rivers for the first time, Ibas said: “My mandate is clear; to restore law and order, stabilise the polity and to create the necessary conditions for the full restoration of democratic institutions and representation.
“My appointment comes at a difficult and consequential moment in history. The political impasse of nearly two years in Rivers State has paralysed governance, desecrated democratic institutions, threatened security and undermined the economic and social fabric of the state.
“It has deepened divisions among the people, and cast a shadow of uncertainty over the future. These are realities we can not afford to ignore. As a son of the Niger Delta, I am one of you. And I recognise the weight of this moment. The expectations of the people, and the challenges that lie ahead.
“The uneasy calm that pervades the state is palpable and I feel the weight of families, young and old, businesses, that have made both little and huge investments in Rivers State, uncertain what the immediate future holds.”
Perhaps, realizing the troubles ahead of him, the sole Administrator held some critical stakeholders’ engagements. Beyond meeting with with senior and junior workers in the Government House as well as security officers in charge of the Government House, Ibas reviewed files, memos, documents and allayed the fears of the civil servants on the payment of their salaries.
Ibas immediately disclosed that he had received the seized state revenue allocations and approved the payment of salaries. Ibas met with traditional rulers and Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).
Ibas told NULGE: “Let me assure that the withheld allocations have now been released, and I hereby issue a directive that all the necessary steps be taken to ensure that these salaries are paid with no further delay.
“As leaders we must feel the pains of our people and offer them a more positive, inclusive and transformative leadership. This is the mandate I have accepted and it is the standard I expect from all of you.”
To the traditional rulers, he said: “Let us remind our people that the progress of Rivers State is a shared responsibility and that only unity and cooperation can overcome the challenges before us.
“Your Royal Majesties, in my quest for peace and stability, it is imperative that traditional rulers shun all acts of partisanship either through their actions, speeches or body language. The traditional institution must remain a neutral and impartial arbiter, respected by all for fearless and integrity.
“I urge you to distance yourself overtly and covertly from any acts of cultism, violence, vandalism or anything that is illegality. Traditional rulers must not condone any action that does not promote economic good. Therefore, you are expected to report any forms of illegality or abuse to relevant authority.”
Ibas, in his next line of action proceeded to direct the Heads of Local Government Administration (HILGA) in the 23 local government areas to submit reports containing the activities of their respective councils to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government.
He announced the suspension of all the political office holders especially those appointed by Fubara. Those he suspended were the Secretary to State Government (SSG), the Chief of Staff, commissioners, chairmen and members of all boards, councils of agencies, commissions, institutions and parastatals, special advisers, special assistants and senior special assistants.
He insisted that the development said was in line with the powers conferred on him by President Tinubu. He went ahead to appoint and inaugurate a new SSG, Prof Ibibia Lucky Worika.
Undoubtedly, the suspensions of political office holders and MDAs and the appointment of a new SSG caused some hullabaloo in the state. But Ibas deafened his ears and undertook further controversial decisions.
The Sole Administrator cancelled all pending procurements and tender processes carried during the period that Rivers operated without budgets saying the decision was in adherence to the Appeal Court’s ruling in suit number CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024.
He created uproar in some quarters when he hinted that his administration was developing a new budget for the state. He promised that the process would be transparent and all-inclusive.
Ibas said: “We are in the process of putting together a new budget that reflects our commitment to healthcare, education, social services, as well as the continued infrastructural development of our state”.
But since he made the statememt, he had said nothing about the new budget perhaps because of the backlash that trailed the announcement. Ibas further took some bullets when he appointed administrators for the 23 local government areas in the state. He further reconstituted some of the suspended boards of agencies, commission’s, and parastatals.
But he defended his decision to appoint administrators for the 23 local government areas in the state saying it came from his findings when he visited some of the councils.
He said after the visits, he realized that he needed people to help him at the grassroot level to enable him actualise the mandates of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
But Ibas been inspecting some projects, which were being executed by Fubara before his suspension. The first project he inspected was the ongoing reconstruction of the demolished House of Assembly complex, part of the victim of the crisis. The administrator acknowledged that the project was in an advanced stage. He visited other relics of the crisis such as the local government secretariats of Ikwerre and Emohua, which were attacked during the crisis.
The administrator has also been dealing with series of protests against his position in the state. He has been battling with legitimacy crisis. Women from various walks of life especially those in support of Fubara have been on the streets querying Ibas’ mission in the state. They have called him many names such as impostor, stranger among others to emphasize their disapproval of his administration. The protesters continued to call on Tinubu to sack Ibas and reinstate Fubara and the suspended lawmakers.
Others have also been linking their negative actions to the emergency rule forcing reactions from the sole administrator. For instance, the Chief Magistrate of the Judiciary of Rivers State, Ejike King George, recently embarked on a voluntary retirement citing the ongoing emergency rule in the state.
George in a letter he addressed to the Secretary, Rivers State Judicial Commission, said his decision was informed by the recent appointment of a quasi-military administration to run the affairs of Rivers.
George said: “This difficult and regrettable decision is informed largely by my discomfort with the recent appointment ofa quasi-military administration to run the affairs of a modern State like ours.”
But later, the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission refuted the claims of George in a statement signed by its Acting Secretary, Blessing Vic-Jumbo, clarifying that George was compulsorily retired in February 10, 2025 for truancy. The statement said the decision was necessitated by George’s absence from work without leave from August 25, 2023 to December 2024.
Ibas is, however, not weathering Rivers storm without support. Other women and stakeholders, who are in the same political family with Wike and the suspended lawmakers had also held demonstrations to drum support for him and to ask the president not to reinstate Fubara.
Ibas has been flaying the allegations that he was favouring the camp of Wike in his decisions and appointments. But he vehemently denied the accusations saying he remain impartial in his dealings.
Ibas said: “It is important to restate my impartial stand on the political crisis that has plagued out State. I remain committed to upholding the law and ensuring that all individuals, irrespective of their political affiliations, have a voice in the future of Rivers State. My administration will continue to focus on the collective good of our people.”
There is no doubt that lack of democratic governance has had a toll on Rivers especially in the aspects of social and economic interactions. Recently, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) cited the development in Rivers as the reason why it relocated its 2025 National Convention to Enugu despite receiving whooping N300m from Rivers government for the event. While Ibas vowed to recover the money, NBA insisted it would not bulge in its decision and went ahead to list infractions of Ibas.
The NBA in its statement delivered a worrisome verdict against Ibas when it said: “Rather than the peace-building efforts that was promised by the President, tension has steadily escalated in Rivers State, arbitrariness and impunity have been displayed on a daily basis and democratic institutions have been demobilized in a gestapo, military style.
“Political appointments are being made by the Sole Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas with military fiat, without approval being sought from the National Assembly or any known legal institution for that matter.”
But many commentators said until NBA returns the N300m it collected from Rivers, it lacked the moral right to hold such opinion against Ibas administration.
Though Ibas denied all allegations against him by NBA, stakeholders believe that the emergency rule has reversed the development trend of Rivers. It has stagnated most of the ongoing projects especially those ones hitherto funded by the nullified budgets.
But recent grapevine reports that Fubara had taken steps to initiate reconciliation by holding separate meetings with his estranged benefactor, Wike and President Tinubu was described by stakeholders as heartwarming.
Little wonder some stakeholders are demanding reversal of the emergency rule and appealing to Fubara to deepen the reconciliation process and to stop his supporters from engaging in actions including protests capable of truncating the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
A former Bayelsa State Labour Party (LP) Governorship Candidate, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has told Fubara to shut his doors against crisis merchants and step up the ongoing reconciliation. Eradiri commended Fubara for heeding his earlier advice that he should kneel before his estranged benefactor and predecessor, Nyesom Wike and beg him for forgiveness.
The former President, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, recalled that when he advised Fubara to beg Wike for forgiveness some Ijaw leaders opposed his position, but said he was glad the suspended governor saw the wisdom in it. Eradiri, a former Commissioner for Youths and later Environment in Bayelsa, said amid the ongoing reconciliation Fubara must learn to keep enemies of Rivers that once surrounded him in abeyance.
He classified those, who tried to make an ethnic case out of the crisis and others, who choreographed most political mistakes of Fubara and supervised some of his constitutional breaches without guiding him properly as the enemies of Rivers and Fubara. He said most of the people, who claimed to love the governor and offered him pieces of advice, were his real enemies because according to him they were profiting from the crisis and would not want it to end.
He urged the suspended governor to reestablish his relationship with Wike and heed the directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the process of finding lasting political calm in Rivers. He said if Fubara had been allowed by crisis merchants to implement the earlier peace agreement crafted by President Tinubu, whom he described as an old political warhorse, he would have avoided the political turmoil that almost led to his impeachment.
Addressing Fubara, he said: “Thank God that President Tinubu saved you through the declaration of emergency rule. This opportunity has offered you a second chance, please do not bungle it.
“I was happy that you heeded my advice, got up from your comfort zone and initiated the reconciliation by first meeting with Chief Wike and apologizing to him. You have done well. But you need to follow-up this process.
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“First, make yourself unreachable to those, who will come and slow this process down and feed you with unsolicited advice to abort this reconciliation”.
Eradiri appealed to the governor to rein in his supporters and stop them from actions capable of derailing the reconciliation process. He particularly condemned the decision of some pro-Fubara women to walk out on an empowerment programme of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of the First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu under the guise that Dr. Theresa Ibas, the wife of the Rivers Sole Administrator represented Mrs. Tinubu.
He said: “Such action is condemnable in the reconciliation process. It can derail and slow down the process of peace in the state as well as casting doubts on the suspended governor’s sincerity to end the political crisis in the state.
“The suspended Governor must rein in his supporters and stop them from all forms of protest capable of deepening the political discord in the state. He must be seen to walk his talk because every action of his supporters will be attributed to him.”
Eradiri appealed to Wike, suspended members of the House of Assembly and other stakeholders in the Minister’s camp to forgive Fubara and help him facilitate the process of reconciliation.
Also, the National President, Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationalities in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Amb. Kennedy Tonjo-West, urged the suspended governor to demonstrate leadership by guiding his followers to understand the importance of the ongoing reconciliation.
While commending Fubara for meeting with Wike, he said his efforts might be in futility of his supporters continued to exhibit actions inimical to the peace process. West appealed to the governor ensure his supporters were on the same page with him and stop them from undertaking provocative actions.
He said: “I will ask the suspended governor to demonstrate leadership by guiding his followers and ensuring that they understand the importance of the peaceful reconciliation and that they are on the same page with him.
“He should clearly communicate such actions and intentions to his followers and the public. They should engage in direct dialogue with the minister to resolve their differences.
“The followers of the governor should avoid embarking on actions that could be perceived as provocative or disruptive to the reconciliation process. They should support the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
“Both sides must compromise to resolve all the crisis. The governor should not be frantically trying to reconcile with the minister but behind him his followers are doing another thing. It will only create lack of trust and confidence in the process.”
With the clamour to speed up reconciliation, Ibas will always be on crossroads and will never win the supper of majority of Rivers people no matter what he does to assuage them. Therefore, as the country and different states gear up to mark yet another May 29, Rivers Ibas remains sombre and sober wishing for the reinstatement of the government they voted for.
