By Kolawole Ojebisi
Jerry Omatsogunwa, the Special Adviser on Electronic Media to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has berated the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas for appointing administrators to the 23 Local Government Areas in the state.
Omatsogunwa, described the decision as “impunity taken too far”.
Omatsogunwa said Ibas had become a lord unto himself by his actions, especially as a court had summoned him over the appointments.
He expressed happiness that the National Assembly has faulted the planned budget preparation that the sole administrator talked about recently.
The governor’s aide, on Thursday, stated, “Well, we have seen impunity ‘pro-max’ in Rivers State, and I think the National Assembly had also said that the budget presentation that he said he was preparing will not stand because that is not the purpose for which he was sent here.
“And the court has asked him not to do anything and to come and answer. You know the rest of the story; 23 names were released as administrators of the LGAs signed by him (Ibas).
“So, for me, it is impunity taken too far. He is now a lord unto himself, and we cannot have that in a democratic setting. I think all well-meaning Rivers people must condemn such acts by the sole administrator, and it will not stand at the end of the day. “
The Rivers State Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) came under scathing criticisms on Wednesday following the sacking of the 23 local government caretakers and the head of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
The caretakers were replaced with administrators in the 23 LGAS in the state, while the RSIEC chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), was replaced by Dr Michael Odey.
Odey will work with six members, four of whom are professors.This came less than 24 hours after a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt ordered Ibas to appear before it to justify why the court should not grant a motion seeking to stop him from appointing administrators for the 23 LGAs.
Justice Adamu Muhammed issued the order on Tuesday in suit no. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu, against the Sole Administrator.
Ibas’s decision was contained in a special government announcement issued on Wednesday by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika.
The statement read, “His Excellency, the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (retd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the appointments of Administrators for the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
“He has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, earlier suspended. All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025.”
Last week, the sole administrator suspended all heads of ministries, departments and agencies in the state.
In a separate development, Ibas also cancelled all pending procurement and tender processes carried out by ministries, departments and agencies in the state.
He said the cancellation became necessary following the Supreme Court judgment and the absence of an appropriation law within the period.
The sole administrator, according to a previous statement also issued by the SSG, directed all MDAs that carried out such tender processes for projects in their respective offices to refund such fees to the respective contractors immediately.
Ibas also approved the appointment of chairmen and members of the civil service and local government service commission.
