27th March , 2025
Kehinde Oni
News desk
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has ordered the immediate suspension of all political appointees and office holders in the state.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Chief of Staff to the Administrator announced that the decision was taken under the authority granted to Ibas by President Bola Tinubu.
The suspension affects key officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, all commissioners, chairpersons and members of boards, agencies, commissions, and parastatals, as well as all Special Advisers, Special Assistants, and Senior Special Assistants.
The statement specified that the suspension takes effect from Wednesday, March 26, 2025, and directed affected officials to hand over to permanent secretaries in their respective ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). In cases where no permanent secretary is available, the most senior director or head of administration is to assume responsibility.
Vice Admiral Ibas was sworn in as Sole Administrator on March 19, following President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. As part of this intervention, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were suspended for an initial period of six months.
Speaking after his swearing-in, Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, pledged to prioritize law and order in Rivers State.
“If the main issue is that of maintaining law and order in the state, I think for any meaningful activities to take place in Rivers State, that is the utmost task that I have,” he told reporters at the State House.
He further assured that he would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to restore stability in the state.
