Rivers Crisis: Sole Administrator Ibas Attends First NEC Meeting Amid Emergency Rule Tensions
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, attended his first National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on April 24, 2025, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, marking a significant moment in his tenure amid ongoing emergency rule and political turmoil in the oil-rich state. Appointed by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025, following a state of emergency declaration, Ibas faces mounting scrutiny over his governance approach as the House of Representatives probes the crisis and critics question the constitutionality of his role. The NEC attendance, trending on X with #RiversCrisis (150,000 posts), underscores efforts to stabilize Rivers, but tensions persist with suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and civil society groups demanding democratic restoration as of April 25, 2025.
Ibas at the NEC Meeting
Ibas joined state governors, including Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), at the NEC meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, per TheCable. The NEC, outlined in Paragraph H, Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, includes governors and key federal officials to address economic policy, per [SituationRoomNg on X]. Ibas’s presence, his first since assuming office, signals his integration into national governance discussions, though his failure to attend a rescheduled House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee meeting on the same day raised eyebrows, per Daily Trust.
Roots of the Rivers Crisis
The state of emergency, declared on March 18, 2025, followed a prolonged political feud between suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, per Businessday NG. Tinubu cited constitutional breaches, security threats, and governance paralysis, suspending Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial six-month period, per Premium Times. Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff (2015–2021) and Ambassador to Ghana (2021), was sworn in on March 19, 2025, tasked with restoring order, per BBC News Pidgin.
The crisis, escalating since October 2023, saw defections of Wike-loyal lawmakers from the PDP to the APC, a fire at the Assembly complex, and legal battles culminating in a Supreme Court ruling favoring Wike’s faction, per Businessday NG. Tinubu’s emergency rule has faced backlash, with Peter Obi calling it “undemocratic” and a “biased interpretation” of Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, per Businessday NG.
Ibas’s Governance and Oversight
Since taking office, Ibas has emphasized neutrality, promising to foster peace and stability through stakeholder engagement, per Linda Ikeji’s Blog. He has met with traditional rulers, youth leaders, and security agencies, urging them to avoid partisanship and report illegal activities, per Tribune Online. Ibas announced the release of N400 billion in withheld local government funds to pay outstanding salaries, per Tribune Online, and appointed Dr. Iyingi Brown as acting Head of Service and Professor Ibibia Worika as Secretary to the State Government, per LN247.
However, his actions have sparked controversy. Ibas dissolved key institutions, including the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and Judicial Service Commission, and appointed sole administrators for all 23 local government areas, actions critics deem unconstitutional, per Punch Newspapers. A lawsuit filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi seeks to void Ibas’s decisions and restrain Tinubu from tampering with elected officials’ tenures, per LN247.
The House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight, chaired by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, summoned Ibas for an interactive session on April 17, 2025, to assess governance under emergency rule, per Opinion Nigeria. After Ibas requested a rescheduling, the session was set for April 24, but he did not appear, citing his NEC attendance, per The Authority News. A closed-door meeting with the committee occurred on April 25, where Ibas requested more time to prepare, per Daily Post Nigeria.
Public and Political Reactions
Public sentiment is mixed. Some youth leaders, led by NYCN’s Nwisabari Bani, support Ibas, urging stakeholders to halt litigation for peace, per African Examiner. Civil servants express cautious optimism, hoping Ibas fulfills Fubara’s welfare promises, per Nigeria Info FM. However, civil society groups like the Transition Monitoring Group and the Nigerian Bar Association criticize the emergency rule, per The Guardian.
On X, #RiversCrisis trends with 150,000 posts. @MobilePunch noted Ibas’s appeal to the Christian Association of Nigeria for peace efforts, per [X Post], while @seunokin highlighted his NEC attendance, per [X Post]. Critics like @SaharaReporters warned that Ibas’s absence from the House probe signals defiance, per [X Post].
Broader Context
Rivers, a key oil-producing state, faces economic strain with Nigeria’s naira at N1,610/$1 and 40% inflation, per NBS. Security challenges, including over 120 deaths nationwide in April, and mpox cases add pressure, per The Punch and Al Jazeera. The crisis threatens Nigeria’s democratic stability, with analysts warning of a potential extension of emergency rule, per Nigeria Info FM.
Looking Ahead
Ibas’s tenure, set to last until September 2025 unless extended, faces legal and political hurdles. The House committee’s ongoing probe and lawsuits challenging his authority could shape Rivers’ governance trajectory. Analysts like Achineke Williams-Wobodo urge reconciliation to restore democracy, per Nigeria Info FM. As Ibas navigates his NEC role and local governance, his ability to foster unity amid criticism will determine Rivers’ path forward.
