Rivers’ Leadership Update – Six Facts About Ibok Ibas

In response to the lengthy political situation in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu proclaimed a state of emergency on March 18, 2025.

In a countrywide broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu issued the proclamation, suspending State lead representative Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and every member of the House of Assembly for a period of six months.

Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) was appointed by the president as the administrator to manage state affairs for the first six months.

Here are key details about the state’s new oil-wealth administrator:

1. From 2015 until 2021, he served as the Chief of Naval Staff.
   
2. He had his early education in Cross River, where he was born.
   
3. After enrolling at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979, he went on to have a prosperous career in the Navy, moving up the ranks to the highest level.
   
4. He belongs to both the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
   
5. In 2022, he was awarded the National Honor of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) by President Muhammadu Buhari, who had previously appointed him as Chief of Naval Staff.
   
6. He has three kids and is married.