Rivers: Ibas Hands Over to Fubara Amid Mixed Reactions

Ibas Bows Out with Farewell Broadcast

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has officially handed over to Governor Siminalayi Fubara following the lifting of the six-month emergency rule.

In a farewell state-wide broadcast, Ibas urged Rivers people to rally behind Fubara as he resumes duty.

It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and the State House of Assembly on 18 March 2025, placing the state under emergency rule. The six-month period ended at midnight on 17 September 2025.

Reflecting on his stewardship, Ibas described the period as one of restored order.

“Law and order has returned, local government elections have been conducted, and elected chairmen now serve in office. Statutory boards and commissions are reconstituted and functioning. The state budget has been passed by the National Assembly, providing a legitimate framework for governance,” he said.

Ibas added that the achievements belonged to the people of Rivers State, whom he praised as resilient in the face of political paralysis. He warned that unrestrained power could weaken institutions and stressed that rivalry without dialogue endangers democracy.

“As I hand back the reins of leadership to Sim Fubara, I do so with confidence and respect. I urge all Rivers people to support him wholeheartedly because leadership and followership is a shared responsibility,” he added.

The former Chief of Naval Staff thanked the people for the opportunity to serve, saying the handover marked the close of another chapter in a career spanning the navy, diplomacy, and governance.

Tinubu Ends Six-Month Emergency Rule

On Wednesday, President Tinubu announced the end of the emergency, declaring that it would lapse at midnight. His decision cleared the way for Fubara, Odu, and Speaker Martins Amaewhule alongside lawmakers to return to office.

Tinubu explained that new signs of reconciliation among political stakeholders convinced him to end the emergency without delay.

“There is a groundswell of understanding, readiness, and enthusiasm among stakeholders in Rivers State for an immediate return to democratic governance,” Tinubu said in a personally signed statement. “I therefore do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had pronounced.”

The President reminded governors and lawmakers nationwide that peace, order, and good governance were vital to delivering democratic dividends. He recalled that Rivers had slipped into paralysis, with a divided Assembly;27 members siding with the Speaker and only four supporting the governor while vandalism of vital oil pipelines worsened the crisis. The stalemate, he said, blocked the presentation of the Appropriation Bill and paralysed governance.

However, sources told The Guardian that Governor Fubara was still abroad at the time of filing this report, but expected to return before midnight for the transition back to democratic rule.

Fresh Concerns as Stakeholders React

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Eddy Olafeso, cautioned that the reinstatement of Governor Fubara could signal the start of a troubling political trend.

Olafeso warned that the Rivers episode might set a precedent where governors and other elected officials are weakened through political manoeuvres rather than constitutional processes.

“Once this becomes a template, it won’t end in Rivers alone. It could spread to other states, weakening the essence of the ballot box,” he said.

He also noted that Nigerian politics often fell into godfather-godson rivalries when outgoing leaders sought to control their successors.

Wike Commends Tinubu

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, praised President Tinubu for lifting the emergency rule in Rivers State.

Wike said the President’s action demonstrated his commitment to peace and democracy, preventing further deterioration of governance.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike said Tinubu’s intervention had restored confidence among Rivers people in his leadership.

Cole Says Fubara’s Powers Are Limited

In a separate reaction, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Tonye Cole argued that Governor Fubara would return to office with “zero powers” after his suspension ends.

Cole, who contested the 2023 governorship election under the APC, spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. He maintained that Rivers, a key political and economic hub, now has a governor whose authority is constrained.

“We cannot be in a situation where we have an elected governor of a state, like Rivers, which is very critical not just for the people of Rivers but for Nigeria as a whole, and what you then see is that you have an elected governor that has zero powers. I don’t think it portends well at all,” Cole said.

He added that Fubara faces a difficult political environment shaped by entrenched power struggles.

Godfather-Godson Politics

Cole further observed that Nigerian politics suffers setbacks when outgoing leaders attempt to control their successors.

“When the new governor is left alone to run his administration, things progress. But when that doesn’t happen, we almost always end up in godfather-godson fights, and it has never been good for democracy,” he said.

According to him, such struggles often hurt ordinary citizens the most.

“Everywhere that fight has occurred, the people have tended to suffer a lot more. My prayer is that as we come back, because we don’t know what we’re going to see starting from tomorrow, the one thing we are sure about is that the governor is not in a position to make any decisions,” he added.

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Rafiyat SADIQ

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Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.