Rivers Shock: Governor Fubara Sidelines Ibas In Official Broadcast

Reinstated Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Friday deliberately avoided mentioning Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), who served as Sole Administrator during the six-month emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu.

Fubara, suspended from office on March 18, 2025, alongside his deputy Ngozi Odu and the House of Assembly members, delivered a statewide broadcast marking his return but did not acknowledge Ibas in his address.

Instead, the governor expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and key National Assembly leaders for their roles in resolving the political crisis that had gripped the state.

He stated, “On behalf of the Government and the good people of Rivers State, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. President for his fatherly disposition and decisive interventions in resolving the political crisis and for graciously restoring full democratic governance to our State. Personally, I will never take Mr. President’s kindness for granted, and for that, I hereby reaffirm my utmost loyalty and eternal gratitude.”

Fubara also thanked Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, and other lawmakers for their support.

Special recognition was given to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whom Fubara described as “Our Leader.” He added, “I also thank our Leader, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, for committing to the prompt resolution of the political impasse in the State.”

Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly has passed a resolution to investigate Vice Admiral Ibas’s actions during his tenure as Sole Administrator.