Following the controversial emergency rule imposed on Rivers State, the newly appointed sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has officially arrived at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Ibas’s presence at the Rivers State Government on Thursday morning indicates that the Nigerian government has fully taken over the state’s affairs.
Multiple pictures obtained on the social media show the sole administrator presiding over a closed-door meeting with senior security officers, a federal government delegation, and top state government officials.
The development comes just a day after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu swore him into office, further escalating tensions in the oil-rich state.
Meanwhile, the two chambers at the National Assembly have given their nods to Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State and the controversial suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio earlier announced the decision to hold a secret meeting after reading a letter from President Tinubu during Thursday’s plenary session.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved the motion for the closed session under Order 135 of the Senate rules.
Justifying the move, Bamidele stated: “In the first instance, I came under Order 1(b) of our rules, which gives us power to regulate our procedure. The first task was for me to inform our colleagues that we are going to adjust the items on the order paper.
“The next step, of course, is to move a motion for us to enter a closed session pursuant to Order 135 of our rules.”
Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro quickly seconded the motion, paving the way for behind-the-scenes deliberations on the controversial takeover of Rivers State.
The House of Representatives earlier supported Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
