….Tinubu Pushing Rivers Into ‘Dark Military Days’ With Declaration Of State Of Emergency – Atiku Abubakar
….A Dangerous Precedent For Nigerja’s Democracy – CUPP
FOLLOWING the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as the sole administrator of the state.
The appointment, announced on Tuesday, 18 March, comes in the wake of the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara for an initial period of six months.
In his address, President Tinubu emphasized the need for decisive leadership to stabilise Rivers State.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State,” he stated.
The President also clarified that the state of emergency does not extend to the judiciary. “For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate,” he added.
The appointment of Vice Admiral Ibas is expected to usher in a period of administrative restructuring as the federal government seeks to restore stability in the state.
The man Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd)
Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR was born on 27th of September 1960. He is a retired Navy vice admiral, who was the 22nd Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Nigerian Navy from 2015 to 2021.
Ibas was born in Nko, Cross River State.
He enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of 26 Regular Course on 20 June 1979 and was commissioned sub-lieutenant on 1 January 1983.
He began his primary education at Nko Primary School, Nko, in 1966 and completed it at Big Qua Primary School, Calabar in 1971.
He then proceeded to the prestigious Hope Waddell Training Institute Calabar from 1972 to 1976. Between 1977 and 1979, he attended the School of Basic Studies Ogoja before proceeding to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979.
Ibas has attended several military courses at home and abroad, including the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course at INS Venduruthy in India from April 1983 to May 1984 and Primary Pilot Training at the 301 Primary Flying Training School at Nigerian Airforce Base in Kaduna from April 1986 to October 1987.
He proceeded to the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna in January 1990 and completed the Junior Staff Course in June of the same year.
In July 1992, he reported at the Amphibious Warfare School of the United States Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia, US, and graduated with a diploma in amphibious warfare in May 1993. In February 1994, Ibas commenced the Officers’ Long Course specializing in underwater warfare at the Underwater Warfare School, NNS Quorra and completed the same in February 1995.
From August 1996 to July 1997, he returned to the prestigious Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji where he completed the Senior Staff Course with excellent grades.
He is also an alumnus of the National Defence College, Islamabad, Pakistan, having attended the National Defence Course from August 2005 to June 2006. In addition, he holds a master’s degree in defence and strategic studies from Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Ibas has held several appointments in the Nigerian Navy. As a midshipman, he served on board NNS Ruwan Yaro, NNS Obuma and NNS Aradu. He later served on board NNS Ayam and NNS Ekpe as a watch
Tinubu Pushing Rivers Into ‘Dark Military Days’ With Declaration Of State Of Emergency – Atiku Abubakar
The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State reeks of political manipulation and outright bad faith.
Anyone paying attention to the unfolding crisis knows that Bola Tinubu has been a vested partisan actor in the political turmoil engulfing Rivers. His blatant refusal or calculated negligence in preventing this escalation is nothing short of disgraceful.
Beyond the political scheming in Rivers, the brazen security breaches that led to the condemnable destruction of national infrastructure in the state land squarely on the President’s desk.
Tinubu cannot evade responsibility for the chaos his administration has either enabled or failed to prevent.
It is an unforgivable failure that under Tinubu’s watch, the Niger Delta has been thrown back into an era of violent unrest and instability — undoing the hard-won peace secured by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Years of progress have been recklessly erased in pursuit of selfish political calculations.
If federal infrastructure in Rivers has been compromised, the President bears full responsibility. Punishing the people of Rivers State just to serve the political gamesmanship between the governor and @officialABAT’s enablers in the federal government is nothing less than an assault on democracy and must be condemned in the strongest terms.
-AA
A Dangerous Precedent For Nigerja’s Democracy – CUPP
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent actions in Rivers State have raised serious concerns about the state of Nigeria’s democracy.
By suspending Governor Sim Fubara and appointing a sole administrator, Tinubu has flagrantly disregarded the Constitution and undermined the principles of democracy.
The selective application of the State of Emergency decree in Rivers State, while ignoring other states plagued by similar or even worse security challenges, raises questions about the motivations behind such a decision.
The Constitution is clear: a governor can only be removed from office through impeachment by the state House of Assembly, death, resignation, or completion of tenure. Nowhere does it grant the President the power to suspend a governor or declare a state of emergency as a tool for political suppression.
The President’s actions are not only unconstitutional but also a blatant overreach of executive power to remove an elected official at will, he is setting a dangerous precedent that threatens the very foundation of Nigeria’s democracy.
This is not just about Rivers State; it’s about the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the protection of citizens’ rights. If this unlawful act is not challenged, we risk creating a culture of impunity where Presidents can arbitrarily remove elected officials who refuse to toe their line.
Nigerians must not stay silent. We must demand that our leaders respect the Constitution and uphold the principles of democracy. We must reject this brazen attempt to undermine our democracy and hold our leaders accountable for their actions.
President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast has raised eyebrows, with many noticing that he solely blamed Sim Fubara for the political impasse, while conveniently ignoring his Minister of FCT, WIKE. This blatant omission suggests that the President has taken sides, sparking concerns about his impartiality.
By failing to acknowledge WIKE’s role in the impasse, Tinubu’s administration has created an impression of bias, which could further exacerbate the situation. This perceived favouritism could undermine the President’s credibility and raise questions about his commitment to fairness and justice.
The ball is in the court of the judiciary, and the Nigerian people. Will we stand up for our democracy, or will we watch as it is eroded by the very people sworn to protect it? The choice is ours?
HIGH CHIEF PETER AMEH
NATIONAL SECRETARY, CUPP
Eighteen-Eleven Media