Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, appointed as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, has issued a sweeping suspension of political appointees and office holders in the state effective immediately.

In a statement released on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Ibas outlined that this decision was made under the powers granted to him by the president. The suspended individuals include high-ranking officials such as the Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, commissioners, board chairpersons and members, as well as all Special Advisers, Special Assistants, and Senior Special Assistants.

According to the statement, these suspensions took immediate effect from Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The affected officers were instructed to hand over their responsibilities to permanent secretaries within their respective Ministries, Departments, or Agencies (MDAs).

In cases where there are no permanent secretaries, the officials were directed to transfer their duties to the most senior director or head of administration in their MDA.

Ibas was sworn into office as Sole Administrator on Wednesday, March 19, by President Tinubu, who also declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. Concurrently, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy Ngozi Odu were suspended for an initial period of six months along with all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Faced with these significant changes, Ibas emphasized his commitment to maintaining law and order as a top priority. In a statement to State House correspondents after taking office, he declared, "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 further assured stakeholders that his administration would collaborate closely with other relevant parties to restore order within the state. This pledge underscored his intention to work collectively towards stability and progress.

With these actions, it appears that Ibas aims to lay a strong foundation for governance in Rivers State, focusing on law and order as a critical component of his mandate.

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