Emergency Rule Briefing: Sole Admin Ibas Begs Lawmakers For More Time

BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), says more time is required for him to properly brief the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Rivers on current developments in the State.

Ibas made the request on Friday in Abuja at a meeting with the Committee. On two previous occasions, being Thursday, 17th April 17 and Thursday, 24th April 2025, failed to appear before the Committee as directed.

Expressing regrets for his inability to attend the earlier engagements, the Rivers Sole Administrator said it was not out of disregard, but rather due to the weighty and urgent demands of stabilising governance in Rivers State.

According to him, “I have always held the National Assembly in the highest regard. I recognise the importance of your oversight responsibilities and your interest in the progress being made in River, which is presently relatively calm, but still fragile.

“It is important that any engagement with this committee is done with the depth, accuracy, and clarity it rightfully deserves. I remain fully committed to cooperating with the committee and to ensuring that all relevant information is made available in due course to support your important work”.

He further said, “I only request the understanding and the indulgence of this committee to grant me additional time to adequately prepare and present a comprehensive and constructive briefing, given the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the current transitional period in Rivers.

“It is important that any engagement with this committee is done with the depth, accuracy, and clarity it rightfully deserves. I remain fully committed to cooperating with the committee and to ensuring that all relevant information is made available in due course to support your important work.”

Meanwhile, speaking to journalists after their closed-door meeting, Chairman of the Committee, Julius Ihonvbere (APC-Edo) said they have resolved to give the Sole Administrator a new date for the briefing as requested..

Underscoring the constitutional role of the National Assembly in legitimising and overseeing the state of emergency declared in the oil-rich State, Ihonvbere said the federal legislature remains central to the state’s transitional process.

He further amplified the lawmakers’ constitutional mandate and expressed satisfaction that Ibas had finally honored the invitation after earlier delays, even as he stressed that the Committee’s mandate is rooted in constitutional authority and that some of its terms had already been communicated to the administrator in an earlier letter.

Ihonvbere said it was important that the Sole Administrator feels at ease to engage the Committee members at all times, noting that they have been carefully selected to ensure broad representation across geopolitical zones and legislative experience.

“I want you to feel relaxed because the members you see here were carefully selected based on zonal representation and membership of the House to advance the progress that Rivers needs to make to be part and parcel of the holistic structure of democracy that Nigeria represents today. We have demonstrated again and again our preparedness to do this job efficiently and effectively,” Ihonvbere said – With the NAN report