The newly appointed Sole Administrator for Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has promised to work together with all stakeholders to maintain law and order in the state.
Ibas spoke while addressing State House Correspondents after he took the oath of office administered by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and other aides of the President witnessed the short inauguration ceremony at the State House.
“First of all, I think we know the circumstances that led to where we are here, and Mr President made it very clear in his broadcast that the main issue is that of maintaining law and order in the state.
“I think for any meaningful activities to take place in River State, that is the utmost task.
“I have to work together with all other stakeholders to ensure that we bring peace, order, and security and stability to the people and government of River State and Nigeria at large,” he said.
President Tinubu had in a national broadcast on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the lingering political crisis in the state.
The President nominated Ibas as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state for an initial period of six months of the state of emergency.
Ibas, born Sept. 27, 1960, was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in the Nigerian Navy in 1983 and held various command positions until President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him Chief of Naval Staff in August 2015.
He held the position until 2021 when he retired from service.
After his retirement, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, where he served between 2021 and 2023.