By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has suspended all political appointees and office holders in the state. The suspension was announced on Wednesday and was made under powers granted by President Bola Tinubu.
Those affected include the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, all commissioners, chairpersons and members of boards, agencies, commissions and parastatals, as well as all Special Advisers, Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants.
Suspended officials are required to hand over to permanent secretaries in their ministries, departments and agencies. Where no permanent secretary exists, they are to hand over to the most senior director or head of administration.
Ibas was sworn in as Sole Administrator on 19 March by President Tinubu after the President declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. The President also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
The former Chief of Naval Staff emphasised his primary goal. “If the main issue is that of maintaining law and order in the state, I think for any meaningful activities to take place in Rivers State, that is the utmost task that I have,” he said to State House correspondents after being sworn in.
Ibas pledged to work with stakeholders to restore order in the state.