Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd) has suspended all political appointees in the state.
A statement by his Chief of Staff, last night, read: “The Rivers State government announces the suspension of political office holders and appointees in Rivers State.
“This is pursuant to the powers conferred on the Administrator of Rivers State, Ibas by President Bola Tinubu.
“Those suspended include the Secretary to the State Government, chief of staff, commissioners, chairmen and members of all boards, councils of agencies, commissions, institutions and parastatals, special advisers, special asisstants, and senior special assistants.
“This suspension takes effect from March 26, 2025. The affected officers are to hand over to the permanent secretaries in their MDAs. Where there may be no permanent secretary, they are to hand over to the most senior director/head of administration.”
Recall that Ibas was appointed sole administrator of the state by President Tinubu on March 18, 2025 following the declaration of emergency rule in the state.
It’s time for dialogue — Diri
Meanwhile, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and instead set up a committee to reconcile the different parties to the dispute.
Diri, who insisted that the Rivers crisis can be resolved through dialogue, also empasised that the Ijaw ethnic nationality was not in conflict with the president or the country.
He made the appeal, yesterday, at an emergency stakeholders’ congress of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa.
The governor said: “Again, I restate that this is the time for dialogue because it is a lose-lose situation for people of Rivers State. I urge Mr. President and the National Assembly to waste no time in inaugurating a committee of eminent personalities that will immediately intervene and bring back peace and the constituted government of Rivers State back to office.
“The South-South Governors’ Forum, of which I am chairman, had urged the President to reconsider his stance and allow for dialogue among the parties.
“However, let me be unequivocal. The Ijaw nation is not in conflict with the Federal Government nor do we have any dispute with President Tinubu.”
In a welcome address, the INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, appreciated Ijaw men and women of good conscience, Niger Deltans, Nigerians and the international community for their unflinching support for justice and equity in the ongoing Rivers political crisis.(Vanguard)