By Precious Akutamadu
It was beginning of a new era in Rivers on Thursday as Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) assumed duty as the Sole Administrator of the State.
This followed declaration of state of emergency that led to suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly for six months last Tuesday. .
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on Tuesday declared state of emergency on Rivers over the protracted political crisis in the state.
The President had on Wednesday sworn Ibas in as the sole administrator of Rivers following the suspension of Fubara for six months.
Ibas told journalists at the airport upon his arrival that Port Harcourt had always been his city and everything appeared calm in spite of the current political situation.
In an interview with journalists in Government House, Ibas said he would meet with the Head of Service, Permanent Secretaries, and Service Commanders to get formal briefings.
He stated that Port Harcourt City would go back to where it had always been.
He commended journalists in the state for what they had been doing in the line of their duties, and assured that he would address the press later.
Ibas resumed duty as the National Assembly ratified the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu.
However, the declaration must be ratified by the two arms of the National Assembly within two days of the declaration, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), otherwise the action become a nullity.
The senate ratification on Thursday followed the consideration of a request to that effect from the president at plenary on Thursday.
Tinubu had written to senate to expeditiously consider the proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending from office the governor, his deputy and members of the house of assembly.
After the reading of the letter by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidela (APC-Ekiti), moved a motion for the re-ordering of the items on the order paper.
The motion was seconded by Sen. Abba Moro (PDP-Benue).
A point order was, however, raised by Sen. Henry Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa), which made the senate to resolve to go into a close session to deliberate on the matter.
Rising from the close session, the senate ratified the proclamation of the state of emergency in the state.
Akpabio, in his remarks after the close session, said that the senate invoked its powers, as conferred on it by Section 305(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and approved the proclamation.
“Senate invoked its powers, as conferred on it by Section 305, Subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and approved the proclamation of the state of emergency declared by Mr President in Rivers State.
“The senate further directs that the declaration of the state of emergency stated in the proclamation document and hereby mandates the president to review and even to terminate the state of emergency at any given time, but not later than six months.
“The senate further resolves that Section 11, Subsection 4 be invoked in providing the national assembly the authority to set up a Joint Committee of both chambers to oversight the administration of Rivers state henceforth.
“The senate further resolves that a committee of eminent Nigerians be set up to reconcile the warring groups within the government of Rivers state within the period of the state of emergency.”
The House of Representatives had earlier ratified the state of emergency also on Thursday.
