Fubara's Return: 3 Legacies of Tinubu's Appointed Rivers' Sole Administrator

• Rivers' state political crisis would be entering a new chapter as suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara is expected to resume next week
• Fubara was suspended on March 18, 2028, and Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas(retd), was appointed as the sole administrator in the state after a state of emergency was declared by President Bola Tinubu
• However, Ibas' six-month rule in the state was marred with criticism, and he would be remembered for three controversial actions he had taken

The suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state is expected to resume office on Thursday, September 18, when the six-month emergency rule President Bola Tinubu declared on March 18, 2028, would expire.

Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has earlier hinted about the return of Fubara following the conduct of the local government election in the state, on August 30. The suspended governor would be resuming, along with his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu and the 32 members of the state House of Assembly.

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Suspended governors since 1999

Since the return of democracy in the country in 1999, Fubara would be the third governor to be suspended from office over the declaration of a state of emergency. The first was Joshua Dariye of Plateau in 2004 and Ayodele Fayose in 2006.

Following Fubara's suspension, President Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas(retd), as the sole administrator in Rivers state. However, many Rivers' prominent figures have accused the administrator of arrogating some constitutional powers to himself.

According to Vanguard, the Rivers administrator has taken steps which has been criticised by some prominent figures in the state.

Below are three things the Rivers administrator would be remembered for in the state, which did not sit well with some political figures in the state. They are:

Sacking and appointments of board members

The Rivers administrator was accused of appointing and sacking board members of agencies and parastatals, a move that was said to be against the laid-down rules given to him by President Tinubu.

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His critics have lamented the impact of such decisions on the welfare of the people of the state.

Budget for CCTV, installation and others

The Tinubu appointee also faced criticism for budgeting N24billion, N30billion and N23billion for CCTV installation, gunboats and contingency.

This, according to the critics, was compared to the city of Port Harcourt, which was said to be known as a garden city but has regressed to a garbage city.

Rivers LG election

Ibas was also criticised for the conduct of the local government election in the state, where the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won 20 council offices, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won three seats.

The criticism was that Ibas was appointed to restore peace in the state and not to conduct the local government elections.

Wike speaks on Rivers LG elections

Legit.ng earlier reported that the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, claimed that the APC is now a threat in his state, Rivers.

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Wike, in an interview, said that the reason for the development was due to the level of federal appointments from the state.

The minister's comment, which came after the local government election in his state, Rivers, generated mixed reactions from some Nigerians.

Source: Legit.ng