- Ibas vows to restore law, order in Rivers
- Senate postpones debate, poor attendance stalls deliberation in Reps
- Fagbemi justifies state of emergency, fingers Fubara in oil pipeline blasts
- Says Rivers allocation goes to sole administrator
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in the sole administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.), into office.
Tinubu swore Ibas into office at about 03:00 pm at the State House, Abuja.
The brief ceremony was witnessed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the Principal Secretary to the President, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Ibas arrived at the Presidential Villa at about 12:48 pm (local time).
Ibas vows to restore law, order in Rivers
Meanwhile, Ibas says he will work together with all stakeholders to maintain law and order in the state.
Ibas stated this in a chat with State House correspondents after he was sworn in by President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday.
“We know the circumstances that led to why we are here, and Mr President made it clear in his broadcast.
“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 said
The retired naval chief also promised to work together with other stakeholders to ensure that order is restored in the state.
“We will work together with other stakeholders to ensure that we bring peace, order, security and stability to the people and government of Rivers State and Nigeria at large,” he said.
Senate postpones debate on state of emergency
The Senate on Wednesday suspended its plenary and announced that the debate on the State of Emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu has been shifted to Thursday.
The postponement was announced after the Senate leadership delayed the commencement of its plenary for about two hours when the majority of the serving senators across party lines had not fully taken their seats.
The debate was delayed till 3pm without much explanation when the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, (APC Ekiti Central) who sponsored the motion, moved to step it down by citing Order 1(b) of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended).
The motion was seconded by Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), and the chamber moved on to the next item without further debate.
The motion, as proposed by Bamidele, expressed apprehension over the deteriorating security situation in Rivers State.
“Worried that there is a clear and present danger of the crises as some militants had threatened fire and brimstone, with security reports indicating disturbing incidents of vandalization of oil pipelines.
“Convinced that there is the need to provide adequate and extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order, and security in Rivers State,” the motion read in part.
To approve the declaration, the Senate requires a two-thirds majority (73 out of 109 senators) to allow the emergency rule to take effect.
There was, however, a palpable fear that the Senate may not meet the requirement on Thursday.
Eventually, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio put the postponement of the debate and suspension of the plenary to voice vote, which was affirmatively responded to by many of the Senators.
Poor attendance stalls debate in Reps
Also, the House of Representatives did not discuss President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration in Rivers State on Wednesday, despite earlier assurances that it would be addressed.
The House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, had previously stated that the matter would be debated during the day’s plenary.
However, contrary to expectations, the House did not deliberate on the issue during Wednesday’s session.
Findings revealed that the discussion was postponed due to poor attendance at the plenary.
It was observed that fewer than 120 lawmakers were present in the 360-member chamber.
Sources said lawmakers decided to push the discussion to Thursday’s session when more members are expected to attend.
Fagbemi justifies state of emergency, fingers Fubara in oil pipeline blasts
The Federal Government has also announced that funds allocated to Rivers State will be given to the state’s Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas.
It also defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers, saying it was necessary to prevent a complete breakdown of order.
The government dismissed claims that former Rivers Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, played a role in the political crisis that led to the emergency declaration.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, made these statements while addressing journalists at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.
When asked whether the Federal Government would still release the state’s allocation despite the situation, Fagbemi said the funds would be made available if the Administrator requested them.
“And to me, it will be in order for the release of that fund because the event of the extraordinary situation has brought them out of the normal situation of things,” he said.
Defending Tinubu’s intervention, he added, “We have about two years into the administration in the state. Now, when do you think he should have acted? Should he have waited until everything was destroyed? I don’t think so.
“I think the President acted at the right time. He gave all parties a chance to resolve their differences. Before then, he had called them together and tried to mediate,” Fagbemi stated.
He alleged that the now-suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, tele-guided militants to blow up pipelines in the state.
He said although the governor was not directly culpable, he failed to dissuade the militants from vandalising the pipeline.
He said, “We are in a democracy. There were what I will call telegraphing of the militants, I will say, by the governor. And the reason I say so is, when he began, he said oh, he will let them know when it was time to act.
“Let us say it was false. Did he come out to disown them? The answer is no. And a week later, they swung into action. You saw or witnessed the vandalisation of oil pipelines.”
Fagbemi argued that with the nation almost reliant on crude oil, anyone “touching” the pipeline is not only an enemy of Rivers but Nigeria.
The minister said Fubara and the members of the state House of Assembly had to be suspended as they failed to ensure a conducive atmosphere for governance in the state.
Tinubu had on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.