Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has issued a stern warning to Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, over recent appointments and the reconstitution of state boards. George described the actions as unconstitutional, illegal, and potentially damaging both politically and legally.
In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, George called on Ibas to respect the Nigerian Constitution and obey existing court rulings, particularly a standing order by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt which bars him from appointing sole administrators for the state’s 23 local government areas.
Despite the order issued by Justice Adamu Turaki Muhammed, Ibas reportedly proceeded to make sweeping political appointments and restructured various boards of state agencies, commissions, and parastatals — a move George condemned as reckless and unlawful.
“I want to warn Admiral Ibas: if you act against the spirit of the Constitution, you will be held responsible,” George cautioned. “Your appointment is for just six months. Even if the President extends it, you will still leave one day, because nobody elected you. Your position as Sole Administrator is not legally recognized.”
George, a retired Naval officer himself, questioned Ibas’ authority to make far-reaching political decisions, emphasizing that Governor Siminalayi Fubara remains the constitutionally recognized and elected leader of Rivers State.
“What happens to those appointments when you leave office on September 18?” George queried. “Why are you flouting a valid court order? Did you receive approval from the National Assembly to reconstitute the boards? Do you now wield both executive and legislative powers in Rivers State?”
He warned that Ibas risks being used and discarded by political actors who are currently backing him, urging him to avoid actions that may tarnish his military legacy or invite legal consequences in the future.
“You have no legal right to appoint anyone. This is not a military regime. The Constitution is still in force. Those using you now will throw you under the bus once you leave office,” the PDP stalwart said.
Appealing to Ibas’ sense of duty and legacy, George added, “You behaved honorably as a Naval officer. Don’t let unconstitutional actions stain your record. You did not drown in the Navy—don’t let politics drown you legally and politically. Now is the time to apply the brakes.”
The statement comes amid ongoing political tensions in Rivers State, following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the prolonged crisis between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Ibas was appointed Sole Administrator as part of a controversial political resolution, a move that has since drawn criticism from various stakeholders and legal experts who argue that it bypasses constitutional provisions for governance in the state.
