Shortly after he was appointed the Administrator of Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu following the declaration of State of Emergency in the state, photographs of the new Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd), with former governor of River State, Nyesom Wike have resurfaced on the internet and social media.
President Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Revers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, following protracted political crisis involving Wike and the Governor.
The president nominatef Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the new Administrator of the state for the period of six months, while the state of emergency lasts in the first instance.
However, several pictures of the Admknistrator with former governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike point to a relationship between the duo.
Popular opinion holds that the president has acted in favour of his Minister and right hand man, Wike who helped secure victory in the state during the 2023 Presidential election.
Wike’s man, Ibas held various key positions within the Nigerian Navy. Early in his career, he served on vessels such as NNS Ruwan Yaro, NNS Obuma, and NNS Aradu. He later became the executive officer of NNS Siri, NNS Ekun, and NNS Ambe between 1993 and 1996.His leadership roles included commanding officer of the Nigerian Navy Underwater Warfare School, commanding officer of the Forward Operating Base Ibaka, Naval provost marshal, principal staff officer to the CNS, command operations officer at Western Naval Command, commander of the Naval Air Base in Ojo, chief staff officer at Naval Training Command, chief of administration at Naval Headquarters, Navy secretary, flag officer commanding Western Naval Command, chief of logistics, and group managing director/CEO of Nigerian Navy Holdings Limited. His tenure as chief of naval staff began on July 13, 2015, following his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He was also appointed as Nigeria’s ambassador to Ghana by Buhari at the end of his military career in 2021.
