Tag:

Rivers

BREAKING: Rivers Sole Administrator, Ibas Appoints Administrators For 23 Rivers LGs

by Folarin Kehinde April 9, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) has approved the appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

This comes less that 24 hours after a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt reportedly restrained him from appointing administrators to oversea the affairs of the local government councils.

The order was issued by Justice Adam Muhammed on Tuesday in suit no. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025 in the case filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative led by Courage Msirimovu against the Sole Administrator in his official capacity.

However, Ibas also approved the constitution of some boards of agencies, commissions and parastatals which he had earlier suspended.

The approval was contained in a Special Government Announcement issued on Wednesday morning by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika.

Though the names of the new appointees were not listed, the statement said the appointments takes immediate effect.

It reads, “His Excellency The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the appointments of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

“He has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, earlier suspended.

“All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025.”

Recall that last week, the sole administrator had suspended all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state with immediate effect.

In a separate development, Ibas also cancelled all pending procurement and tender processes carried out by Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state.

He said the cancellation became necessary following the Supreme Court judgment and the absence of an appropriation law within the period.

The sole administrator according to a previous statement also issued by the SSG, directed all MDAs that carried out such tender processes for projects in their respective offices to refund such fees to the respective contractors immediately.

April 9, 2025 0 comments

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BREAKING: Rivers State Government Dismisses All Political Appointees in Major Shake-Up

by Folarin Kehinde March 26, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Rivers State Government has suspended all political office holders and appointees across the state, effective immediately.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief of Staff to the Administrator of Rivers State said that the suspension was in line with the powers conferred on the state’s Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, by President Bola Tinubu.

The affected officials include:

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG)

The Chief of Staff

All Honourable Commissioners

Chairmen and members of boards, councils of agencies, commissions, institutions, and parastatals

All Special Advisers, Special Assistants, and Senior Special Assistants

The statement further directed the suspended officials to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries in their respective ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

In cases where no Permanent Secretary is in place, the most senior Director or Head of Administration is to take over.

This directive takes effect from Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

March 26, 2025 0 comments

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“Na Your Mama Be This” – Students Disgrace Tinubu’s Wife, Remi, in Delta State

by Folarin Kehinde March 26, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

Students of the Delta State School of Nursing, Agbor, openly rejected an attempt to hail Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, during her visit to the institution.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when Remi Tinubu visited Delta State as part of her advocacy for free treatment programs for HIV/AIDS patients across the country.

During her address to the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council in Asaba, she spoke about the impact of HIV/AIDS, particularly among young people. She urged traditional rulers to raise awareness and support health initiatives, including the fight against female genital mutilation.

However, a viral video from the event captured a moment when the Master of Ceremony (MC) tried to lead the audience in a song praising the First Lady.

He sang, “Na my mama be this o, we no get another one.”

In response, the students replied, “Na your mama be this ooooo.”

The incident has drawn attention online, with many linking it to growing dissatisfaction with the federal government.

President Bola Tinubu has faced criticism over economic policies such as the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, which many believe have worsened economic hardship in the country.

March 26, 2025 0 comments

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Rivers: Police shot dead vandals attempting to bomb pipeline

by Folarin Kehinde March 26, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigeria Police Command in Rivers State on Tuesday confirmed the killing of an unspecified number of suspected vandals attempting to vandalize a pipeline in the Rumuekpe Aluu community.

CP Olugbenga Adepoju, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, revealed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt, stating that the suspects died on the spot.

He reported that the operation was part of the ongoing joint effort with other security agencies to safeguard Rivers.

Adepoju said: “The joint security forces successfully thwarted an attempt by miscreants to vandalise a pipeline, leading to the death of the vandals who sought to detonate it.

“The failed detonation was due to the swift response of security personnel to the incident at Allu-Rumuekpe in Ikwerre Local Government Area, LGA, of Rivers on March 16.”

Adepoju also disclosed that following the success, security forces proceeded to Onelga LGA on March 19, where they stopped another potential bomb attack by criminals.

According to him, two suspects were arrested in possession of four dynamites during the operation.

He added that the police also detonated pods, and other Improvised Explosive Device, IED, components.

March 26, 2025 0 comments

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Fubara makes first public appearance at salvation ministries after suspension

by Folarin Kehinde March 23, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

There are reports that the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, is attending a Sunday service at Salvation Ministries in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

This development follows widespread speculation regarding his whereabouts since President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency last Tuesday.

Amid uncertainty, some reports suggested that Governor Fubara had relocated to the Bayelsa State Government House to reside for the six-month duration of the emergency.

However, his public appearance today provides clarity on his location.

President Tinubu had suspended the governor, his deputy and all elected members of the state House of Assembly over a prolonged political crisis in the state, citing a Brando of law and order.

March 23, 2025 0 comments

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BREAKING: Tinubu swears-in Ibas as Rivers sole administrator

by Folarin Kehinde March 19, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

President Bola Tinubu has sworn- in the sole administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.), into office.

Tinubu swore Ibas into office at about 03:00 pm at the State House, Abuja.

The brief ceremony was witnessed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the Principal Secretary to the President, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola.

Ibas arrived at the Presidential Villa at about 12:48 pm (local time).

On Tuesday night, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

In a national broadcast, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as reasons for the extraordinary measure.

The crisis, which had paralysed governance in the oil-rich state, stems from a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

March 19, 2025 0 comments

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FG to release Rivers allocation to Administrator

by Folarin Kehinde March 19, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Government on Wednesday said that the allocation for Rivers State will be released to the Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd).

The government also said President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State was timely and meant to avert an implosion in the state.

This is as it has said that the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has no role in the political crisis in Rivers State that culminated in the declaration of a state of emergency.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, stated this while briefing State House correspondents at the presidential Villa, Abuja.

While fielding questions on whether the Federal Government would release the allocation from the federation account to the state in view of the latest development, the Minister said if the administrator requests for it, it will be released to him.

“And to me, it will be in order for the release of that fund because the event of the extraordinary situation has brought them out of the normal situation of things.”

He justified the decision of the President to declare a state of emergency in the state.

According to him, “We have about two years into the administration in the state.

“Now, when do you think he (President Tinubu) should have come in? Is it when everything has been destroyed? I don’t think so.

“I think the President has acted timeously. He has given the opportunity to all the parties involved, to make amends. Before then, he had to assemble them, he had tried to mediate,” he stated.

March 19, 2025 0 comments

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Rivers: Reps in heated argument before plenary

by Folarin Kehinde March 19, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

Some members of the House of Representatives engaged in a heated argument over the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The incident reportedly occurred during its plenary session on Wednesday.

DAILY POST sighted a video of the incident shared online by AIT News on Wednesday.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday night, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The President made the pronouncement in a nationwide broadcast.

However, the Constitution requires the National Assembly to consider the President’s gazetted proclamation within 48 hours if it is in session and within 10 days if it is in recess.

If the National Assembly does not consider the proclamation valid, it will vote otherwise. A two-thirds majority of both houses—the Senate and the House of Representatives—is required to uphold or reject the declaration.

Video link below:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DjSFokVjB/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

March 19, 2025 0 comments

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Soldiers hold Fubara, family hostage at Rivers governor’s residence

by Folarin Kehinde March 19, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his family members are being held hostage at the Government House, Port-Harcourt, by a contingent of heavily armed soldiers Tuesday night.

The development comes moments after President Bola Tinubu invoked Section 180 of the Nigerian Constitution to proclaim a state of emergency in Rivers. The Nigerian leader based his controversial move on a prolonged and rapidly escalating political feud led by state lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, who commenced impeachment proceedings against Mr Fubara last week to settle scores in his fallout with Mr Wike, who engineered Mr Fubara’s election in 2023 despite corruption charges.

Rivers government sources told The Gazette that soldiers carrying out the president’s instructions on declaring the state of emergency barricaded all entrances and exits to the government house immediately after the president’s speech.

Attempts by Mr Fubara and his family to pack their belongings out of the Government House have been rebuffed by the soldiers, who suppressed all movements around the premises.

“We are being held hostage,” an affected official told The Gazette from the scene on Tuesday night. “They said they don’t have instruction to let anyone leave the premises.”

It was unclear whether the soldiers implemented their duties as instructed or were overzealous in following specific orders.

Spokespersons for the Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters did not immediately return requests seeking comments about the soldiers’ treatment of the Fubaras.

Mr Tinubu’s declaration to suspend the feuding parties from office for six months, effective Tuesday, sparked furious debates across social media as netizens argued whether the president had constitutional grounds to suspend an elected governor whom the state lawmakers have not yet impeached. Efforts to impeach Mr Fubara began on Monday, barely 24 hours before Mr Tinubu imposed an emergency ordinance.

Lawyers like Inibehe Effiong and Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana have excoriated the president for taking the law into his own hands without regard for the Constitution’s position.

The president named the retired chief of naval staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as the military administrator in Rivers in the interim.

Source: People’s Gazette

March 19, 2025 0 comments