* Lateef Fagbemi
By Pathfinder Reporter
Wednesday March 19, 2025
Please, share this story:
The Federal Government on Wednesday said that the allocation for Rivers State will be released to the Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (rtd).
This was disclosed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) while briefing State House correspondents at the presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Attorney-General also said President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State was timely and meant to avert an implosion in the state.
He said that the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has no role in the political crisis in Rivers State that culminated in the declaration of a state of emergency.
While fielding questions on whether the Federal Government would release the allocation from the federation account to the state given the latest development, the Minister said if the administrator requests for it, it will be released to him.
“And to me, it will before the release of that fund because the event of the extraordinary situation has brought them out of the normal situation of things.”
He justified the decision of the President to declare a state of emergency in the state.
According to him, “We have about two years into the administration in the state.
“Now, when do you think he (President Tinubu) should have come in? Is it when everything has been destroyed? I don’t think so.
“I think the President has acted timeously. He has allowed all the parties involved to make amends. Before then, he had to assemble them, he had tried to mediate,” he stated.
President Tinubu had on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
In a national broadcast, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as reasons for the extraordinary measure.
The crisis, which had paralyzed governance in the oil-rich state, stems from a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
As part of the directive, the President also appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs until normalcy is restored. Ibas served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
We are here to serve you news and information.
Your donations, reactions, and advert placement are welcome.
Contact us on 08033783144 (WhatsApp)
08023469999(WhatsApp)
idowuadelusi@yahoo.com,adelusiidowu@yahoo.com, idowuadelusi@gmail.com,
thepathfindernews0@gmail.com
Follow our reports also on X @idowuadelusi and Facebook (Idowu Oluwole Adelusi)