Veteran journalist and former presidential media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati says Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State’s attitude showed that he was interested in grabbing the position vacated by the suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.
After declaring a state of emergency in Rivers and suspending the govenor, his deputy and the state House of Assembly, President Bola Tinubu swore in Ibas as the sole administrator of the state with the sole of mandate of forestalling breakdown of law and order in the state.
Speaking on Arise TV, Abati who had earlier advised the ex-naval chief not to accept the appointment as there is no provision for a sole administrator in the 1999 constitution said Ibas’ desperate acceptance of the position speaks clearly to the Nigerian character of ‘it is my turn’.
“Yesterday, I was advising the sole administrator yesterday not to accept that appointment but I think that I offered that opinion in vain. He himself was probably very much interested in grabbing that position but there is no provision in the 1999 constitution for the position of a sole administrator”.
“This sole administrator now quickly went to Port Harcourt and has been giving speeches saying he will work with people”.
“His enthusiastic, desperate acceptance of that position speaks fully to the Nigerian character. This ‘it is my turn and I will grab it’ attitude, whether it is legal or not”.
