PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — It don reach one week since President Bola Tinubu declare state of emergency for oil-rich Rivers State, Southern Nigeria. Dis declaration come after political wahala wey don dey disturb di state. Di president appoint retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as di Sole Administrator to bring stability to di area.
Oga Ibas start work immediately, meet with senior security officers and both federal and state government officials for Goment House, Port Harcourt. According to di president, di Sole Administrator go dey in charge for an initial six months.
Oga Ibas talk on Thursday say im role as Sole Administrator no go be political. E wan restore order and governance, while making sure say di safety of di citizens dey intact. “I go make sure say everybody dey safe and I dey here to protect our civil rights,” e add.
As part of im new role, Ibas warn everybody wey dey plan to sabotage crude oil operations or cause violence say dem go face serious consequences. “No go dey any chance for disorder. We no need any behavior wey fit shake our peace,” Ibas tok.
On Saturday, di Sole Administrator visit di site where di Rivers State House of Assembly Complex dey reconstruct, urging contractors to complete di project quickly. “Restoring legislative functions na part of my work,” e say.
Days after e enter office, Ibas also begin set up im own administration by appointing new aides. Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika don become di new Secretary to di State Government (SSG). Dis appointment come after President Tinubu suspend di former governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and some lawmakers for di state.
Professor Worika wey from Okrika, don get enough experience for di public service and legal fields. E serve as di Director for di Centre for Advanced Law Research for Rivers State University and get in Ph.D. for International Environmental and Comparative Petroleum Law from University of Dundee.
Worika don also work as adviser for international organizations like di Commonwealth Secretariat and OPEC, where he deal with energy policy, natural resource management, and legal frameworks.
In a statement from Ibas, di administrator praise Professor Worika for im extensive qualifications, saying e fit help achieve peace and stability wey di state need.
Meanwhile, di Head of Civil Service for Rivers State, Dr. George Nwaeke, don resign months after di new administration begin. Dis resignation dey follow di political crisis wey dey affect di governance of di state. Oga Ibas express gratitude for di service wey Nwaeke provide during im short tenure, wishing am well.
For interim, Dr. Inyingi Brown, who be Permanent Secretary for Welfare, go act as Head of Service until dem find new person for di position. Dis development come as part of Ibas strategy to stabilize di governance structure for Rivers State.
As di Sole Administrator set to maneuver di political landscape, e need to align di goals of di new administration with di expectations of di residents, especially with di political tensions currently affecting di state.
