₦airaland Forum

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has inaugurated the 23 newly elected local government chairmen, urging them to prioritize transparency, accountability, and reform-oriented governance over personal interests, News360 Nigeria reports.

The swearing-in ceremony, which took place at the Government House in Port Harcourt, represents a major step in restoring democratic structures in the state after months of political unrest that prompted federal intervention.

It will be recalled that on March 18, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Ordu, and the entire House of Assembly following a prolonged political crisis that nearly paralyzed governance.

“This victory is not a prize to be enjoyed. It is a burden to be carried. It is not an entitlement, but a duty. It is not a call to self-interest, but to selfless service,” Ibas told the new chairmen in his inaugural charge.

He emphasized that leadership must move beyond the politics of patronage and focus on delivering measurable services that improve the lives of citizens at the grassroots.

Ibas commended the peaceful conduct of the August 30, 2025, Local Government elections, describing it as a decisive step towards reinstating constitutional order and a testament to the resilience of Rivers people.

“You proved that democracy belongs to the people, that power must flow from the consent of the governed, and that no obstacle can weaken the resolve of a united citizenry,” he said, praising both the electorate and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for what he called a credible and rancor-free process.

Outlining priorities for the new council bosses, Ibas tasked them to: Familiarize themselves with the Constitution and statutes guiding the local government system. Make peace and security a priority by working with traditional rulers, security agencies, and community leaders.

Strengthen local economies through support for small businesses, infrastructure upgrades, and investments in education.

“Without peace, there can be no progress,” he cautioned.

The Sole Administrator also highlighted the ongoing biometric enrollment of local government staff as a critical reform and urged the chairmen to support the process for effective planning and payroll management.

He further expressed gratitude to the outgoing Council Administrators for their contributions during what he described as a critical period in the state’s history.

With the swearing-in of the 23 chairmen, Rivers State takes a definitive step toward the restoration of democratic governance and the reinforcement of grassroots legitimacy.

AMINDA:
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Tinubu's brand of democracy. The Southwest as a region will struggle for many years to recover from the damage that Tinubu is doing to their reputation because the next president to carry out this payback on them will enjoy unprecedented support from the rest of Nigerians.

kaludestiny10:
What a political rascality from the Tinubu and Wike run enterprise called Nigeria and Rivers state. An illegal state of emergency in order to capture the LG structure in Rivers State and they went ahead to make a new budget that is higher than the budget made by the suspended governor at the middle of the year. Meanwhile the sole administrator hasn't executed one single project with the money at his disposal after the huge budget.

zero8zero:
Victory for democracy. Rivers State has been even more peaceful since the state of emergency was declared than during Fubara's period. The biggest losers are ipob who were low-key wishing for violence in the state.

zero8zero:
Victory for democracy. Rivers State has been even more peaceful since the state of emergency was declared than during Fubara's period. The biggest losers are ipob who were low-key wishing for violence in the state.

kaludestiny10:
What a political rascality from the Tinubu and Wike run enterprise called Nigeria and Rivers state. An illegal state of emergency in order to capture the LG structure in Rivers State and they went ahead to make a new budget that is higher than the budget made by the suspended governor at the middle of the year. Meanwhile the sole administrator hasn't executed one single project with the money at his disposal after the huge budget.

Newsgeek24:
https://news360ng.com/rivers-state-sole-administrator-ibas-swears-in-23-newly-elected-lg-chairmen/

AMINDA:
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Tinubu's brand of democracy. The Southwest as a region will struggle for many years to recover from the damage that Tinubu is doing to their reputation because the next president to carry out this payback on them will enjoy unprecedented support from the rest of Nigerians.

Purevibe74:
The head line should be the illegal Administrator swears in the selected chairmen, is now clear that chief have more power than the constitution he sworn to uphold one thing I know for sure is that he won't remain in power forever.

Rexymania:
When criminals are in power this is what you see x

chisomkachy:
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the alleged money laundering suit it filed at the Federal High Court against Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.

Naija News understands that the anti-graft did not give any particular reason for its application for withdrawal.

Following the application to withdraw, Justice Nicholas Oweibo discharged the ‘lien/Post No Debit’ placed on Obasa’s three accounts in Standard Chartered Bank.

The accounts are (US Dollars) 0001852063; (Current) 0001852056 and (Saving) 5002309624.

The judge also set aside the ex-parte orders he made on September 15, 2020, which led to the freezing of the accounts.

Recall that the court on September 15, 2020, granted an interim order freezing Obasa’s accounts following the EFCC’s application in a suit marked FHC/LCS/1064/2020.

The agency had said it was investigating the Speaker for the alleged offences of conspiracy, diversion of funds, abuse of office and money laundering.

But Justice Oweibo, on August 16, 2023, heard the application to unfreeze the accounts in his chamber.

During the hearing, the EFCC was represented by Mr. Sulaiman I. Sulaiman, while Obasa was represented by Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN).

The EFCC lawyer told the court that the application to unfreeze the accounts was pursuant to Section 44(2)(K) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 26, 29 and 34 (1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

Section 44 of the Constitution concerns constitutional rights to property.

Justice Oweibo held: “It is hereby ordered that an order is hereby granted to the respondent/applicant setting aside the ex-parte orders of this court made on the 15th day of September 2020 upon the ex-parte motion of the Applicant/ Respondent in relation the funds of the Respondent/Applicant domiciled in the accounts stated in the following schedule:

“ACCOUNT NAME, FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INSTITUTIONS, TYPE OF ACCOUNT, 1. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered, (US Dollars) 0001852063 2. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Current) 0001852056 3. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Saving) 5002309624.

“Issued at Lagos, under the seal of this Honourable Court and by the hands of the Presiding Judge this 16th day of August 2023.”

https://dailytimesng.com/obasa-efcc-withdraws-suit/

Previous Threads:
https://www.nairaland.com/5877642/obasa-64-bank-accounts-linked#89878603

https://wap.nairaland.com/6167844/lagos-assembly-speaker-obasa-efcc#94728150

https://www.nairaland.com/6168612/obasa-court-orders-efcc-freeze#94741534

Cherrybae:
Anayo stop wailing. Wike is not your mate in politics

Wike the Ogbuagu 1 of Ndigbo

ddippset:
Says a man who hijacked the party and singlehandedly produced the last 4 National Chairmen of the party for his own selfishness.

Says a man who accepted nomination to be running mate to Fulani Atiku.
He knew it was injustice to give Atiku the ticket yet he lobbied to be the VP.


He knew the party had to go South for the 2023 election, yet he still put Secondus as National Chaiman just to hijack the party..
Only to push Secondus out because he wanted the ticket 2023.

This man remains the biggest problem of PDP.

He can only deceive and fool his minions, not reasonable people.

EdiskyHarry:
Smart man from calabar cashing out on a steady from Rivers State resources 🤣🤣
He's currently the Luckiest beneficiary of tinubu and wike selfishness and greediness

kaludestiny10:
What a political rascality from the Tinubu and Wike run enterprise called Nigeria and Rivers state. An illegal state of emergency in order to capture the LG structure in Rivers State and they went ahead to make a new budget that is higher than the budget made by the suspended governor at the middle of the year. Meanwhile the sole administrator hasn't executed one single project with the money at his disposal after the huge budget .

lexy2014:
Has the meaning of democracy changed?

What constitutional powers does Ibas have to conduct elections and swear in "elected" officials?

Can there be democracy outside of the provisions of the constitution?

Cherrybae:
Anayo stop wailing. Wike is not your mate in politics

Wike the Ogbuagu 1 of Ndigbo