KEY POINTS
- Ibas manages to stop the running procurement processes and instructs contractors to return submitted funds.
- Some opponents of Ibas’ moves argue that his decisions will lead to an unstable Rivers State but his supporters maintain his selection of leadership is the correct path.
- President Tinubu must intervene in the high political tension currently present in the state.
Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas serving as Sole Administrator of Rivers State has terminated every procurement process and tender which Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) started under the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s term.
Prof. Ibibia Worika the Secretary to the State Government explains through the Supreme Court judgment of Suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024 the elimination of MDAs’ procurement processes because the state lacks an Appropriation Law.
All Ministries Departments and Agencies participating in tender processes must return the fees charged to contractors while waiting for approval of a new budget from state government direction.
Ibas cancels all tenders,backlash against decisions
The current governor of Rivers State has encountered intensifying opposition because he dismissed all the political staff originally employed by Governor Fubara. people suspect that his policies align with the goals of political interests based in Abuja.
Political analyst Ogbonna Nwuke argued in his opinion that the current Chief Judge of the state Omarkin Ibas demonstrates partisan behavior through his administration which risks instability in Rivers State.
During his six months as Sole Administrator Ibas needs to supervise the entire state. The abnormality of his situation led him to demolish a stable democratic framework of the state which he described as peaceful according to Nwuke.
Request for Tinubu to intervene
Nwuke called for President Bola Tinubu to step in about Ibas’ administration because his recent decisions threatened the stability of Rivers State. He strongly rejected the baseless accusations of violence sponsorship and corruption against Fubara because they were nothing but politically expedient attacks he considered dangerous to the state.
State Publicity Secretary Chibuike Ikenga from All Progressives Congress defended the decisions made by Ibas regarding project cancellations. The official maintained that these actions were important because Fubara had appointed the fired workers while also distributing the canceled contracts.
Ikenga added that the absent House of Assembly confirmation was the primary reason why officials were dismissed since this process was a mandatory requirement.
The APC State Publicity Secretary Ikenga announced full backing for Ibas and emphasized that declaring a state of emergency served essential purposes in stabilizing Rivers State.
