The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his timely intervention in the political crisis that engulfed the state earlier this year.

Speaking on Saturday during the grand finale of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt, Ibas praised Tinubu’s decisive leadership, which he said restored order and reinforced governance in the state.

 “Let me express our sincere appreciation to His Excellency, Bola Tinubu, for his unwavering commitment to peace and stability in Rivers State and the broader Niger Delta,” Ibas said. “His intervention was timely, firm, and deeply reassuring.”

Rivers State had descended into political turmoil following a fallout between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The crisis led to chaos in the State Assembly and growing tension across the state.

In response, President Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency in March, suspending both Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and appointing Ibas as Sole Administrator. The controversial move drew mixed reactions, both commendation and legal challenges.

However, by June 2025, the rift between Fubara and Wike was resolved after a peace meeting with Tinubu, during which both leaders pledged to cooperate for the sake of state stability. Their reconciliation was later affirmed with a joint public appearance.