Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), on Wednesday, took the oath of office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, stressing that his major task is how to maintain law and order in the oil-rich state.
Following his declaration of the state of emergency on Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu had appointed Ibas to oversee the affairs of the crisis-ridden state for six months, pending resolution of the political crisis.
Answering questions from reporters shortly after his swearing in in Abuja on Wednesday, Ibas spoke on how he intends to handle the affairs of the state.
He said, “First of all, I think we know the circumstances that led to where we are here.
“Mr. President made it very 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 to work together with all other stakeholders to ensure that we bring peace, order and security and stability to the people and government of River State and Nigeria at large.”
While announced the imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers, the President had cited the protracted political crisis as the basis for his action.
Tinubu said he felt disturbed by escalation of the face-off between the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, stressing that that he needed to act fast to quell the crisis, which he said was depriving the citizens of Rivers the dividends of democracy.
