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TINUBU APPOINTS RETIRED CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF IBAS AS RIVERS STATE ADMINISTRATOR AMID CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas, a retired Chief of Naval Staff, as the administrator of Rivers State, following the declaration of a state of emergency in the state. However, Ibas’s appointment has raised eyebrows due to allegations of corruption and victimization made against him by a former naval officer, Captain Emmanuel Ekpe. In an open letter to former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022, Ekpe accused Ibas of corruption and victimization, stating that he was repeatedly denied promotion and eventually forced into retirement after exposing corrupt practices in the Navy. “Using myself as a case study. I was repeatedly victimised by the former Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ekwe Ibas, for more than 20 years,” Ekpe wrote. Ekpe’s allegations against Ibas date back to 1996 when he reported a case of fraud against Ibas, who was then the Executive Officer of NNS AMBE. Ekpe claimed that Ibas retaliated against him, denying him promotion and eventually placing him on the National Security Watchlist. “The former CNS was adamant on punishing me for exposing his corrupt behaviour. And so despite the fact that I had repeatedly met all the criteria for promotion, I along with so many others were denied promotion on frivolous grounds,” Ekpe stated. Ibas’s appointment as Rivers State administrator has raised concerns about the president’s commitment to zero tolerance for corruption. Ekpe’s letter to Buhari was never addressed, and it remains to be seen how Tinubu’s administration will respond to these allegations.

ANOTHER EXPLOSION HITS OIL FACILITY IN RIVERS STATE, SECOND IN 12 HOURS

A devastating explosion has struck an oil facility in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, marking the second major incident in less than 12 hours. The blast occurred at a Manifold Connecting federal line in Okwawriwa area, ONELGA, on Tuesday morning, sending massive flames into the air. According to eyewitnesses, the explosion happened at a facility that conveys petroleum products from Seplat, Agip, and Shell, serving ONELGA and parts of Imo State, to Brass in Bayelsa State. “It was a massive explosion, and the flames are still raging,” an eyewitness said. “Fortunately, the facility is located far from residential homes, so we don’t expect any casualties.” This latest explosion comes on the heels of a similar incident at the Trans-Niger Pipeline, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which transports oil to Bonny Terminal. The cause of the explosions is yet to be determined.

RIVERS STATE ASSEMBLY ADJOURNS INDEFINITELY AMID POLITICAL TENSIONS

The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has adjourned its plenary sessions indefinitely. This decision comes after Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s fresh attempt to present the 2025 budget in line with Supreme Court directives. The move follows Fubara’s letter to the Assembly, requesting a new date for the presentation of the 2025 appropriation bill. In the letter, dated March 13, Fubara proposed presenting the budget on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 11am or on any other suitable date within the month. Fubara stated that his actions comply with the Supreme Court judgment of February 28, which ordered the presentation of the budget to the Assembly. He reminded the Assembly of the events of March 12, when he and his entourage were locked out of the legislative complex despite prior notice of his visit. “You may recall my failed visit to the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, 12th March 2025, for the presentation of the 2025 Rivers State Budget in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” Fubara wrote. The development comes amid heightened political tension following Fubara’s decision to fully implement the February 28, 2025, Supreme Court ruling. As part of this, he directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to outline modalities for fresh local government elections, now scheduled for August 9, 2025. President Bola Tinubu has also intervened in the crisis, asking leaders of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) to ensure that Governor Fubara complies with the Supreme Court ruling. “I have total confidence in our judiciary. Now, the Supreme Court has spoken—that is it. Please go back home and help him (Governor Fubara) to implement those recommendations within the shortest possible time,” Tinubu said.

GOVERNOR DIRI EMERGES CHAIRMAN OF SOUTH-SOUTH GOVERNORS FORUM

Governors of the South-South geo-political zone have unanimously elected Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, as chairman of the South-South Governors Forum. The election took place on Tuesday during the forum’s meeting in Government House, Yenagoa. Chief Press Secretary to Governor of Bayelsa State, Daniel Alabrah, said in a statement that Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, emerged as vice chairman of the forum. Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, moved the motion nominating Diri while his Rivers State counterpart, Siminalayi Fubara, seconded it. Responding, Diri said his emergence as chairman was a call to higher service and promised to serve the forum and the region diligently. He stated that the forum would go beyond issuing communiques to taking action in critical issues that affect the region’s development. “Working together, we have all resolved that our region will not fail. We have seen other regions working while our region was quiet,” Diri said. In his opening address, Diri outlined the objectives of the forum, which include fostering greater synergy among states, advancing regional investments in critical sectors, and promoting sustainable development and prosperity. He identified South-South regional flight connection as one area of collaboration to ease air travel within the zone. The governors also expressed support for the ongoing tax reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration, but urged the president to extend the proposed VAT sharing to other areas of derivation like oil and gas. They argued that the law on oil derivation prescribed a minimum of 13 per cent and that the federal government should consider increasing the amount on oil derivation to states in the region. The forum appreciated the president for the award and commencement of the coastal road project, but demanded that it equally commence from the Calabar axis to enhance connectivity and stimulate economic development in the region. They also called for the intervention of the federal government in other areas, including the extension of the ongoing remediation of Ogoni land to other polluted environments in the region. Alabrah said the highpoint of the meeting was the celebration of the birthday of the Rivers governor, Sim Fubara, who turned 50 on Tuesday.

BAYELSA, RIVERS GOVERNORS RESOLVE SOKU OIL WELL DISPUTE

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has expressed delight over the peaceful resolution of the Soku oil well dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa states. Contained in a statement made available to CTN and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Daniel Alabrah, Governor Diri praised his Rivers counterpart, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for his role in resolving the dispute. Governor Diri said the peaceful relations between both states were necessary for their development and called for its continuity. He also lauded Fubara for his handling of the demolished property of the Bayelsa government in Port Harcourt, which is still in court while both states are close to reaching an amicable settlement. Daniel Alabrah quoted Governor Diri as saying, “We came to pay you a Christmas visit… Going forward, we should continue to visit each other to keep both states peaceful and to allow for our development.” Governor Diri also stressed the importance of regular interactions between both states while assuring Fubara of the support of the government and people of Bayelsa at all times. According to Daniel Alabrah, Governor Fubara responded by saying that both Rivers and Bayelsa needed each other to make progress and insisted that they could not be separated. He called on Governor Diri to revive the BRACED Commission and strengthen cooperation among states of the Niger Delta region. The Bayelsa Governor also attended the 80th birthday celebration of General Stanley Diriyai (rtd) in Port Harcourt, where he hailed him as a father, mentor to many, and a worthy son of Bayelsa.