By David Torough, Abuja

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas yesterday directed the Heads of Local Government Administration in the 23 local government areas of the state to submit the activities of their respective councils.

This is as the State Government announced the suspension of all the political office holders, especially those appointed by suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

In a related development, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, again appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Ibas’ order was contained in a letter addressed to the HLGAs, dated March 24, 2025 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Itong Awani.

According to the letter, the HLGA appointed by the suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara, are to submit the report to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government.

The letter titled ‘Re: Submission of Report of The Activities of Your Councils’ was obtained by newsmen on Wednesday.

Some of the requirements to be submitted include functions of councils, the number of staff on a nominal roll, and sources of revenue of the LGAs, among others.

Also, the heads of local government administration are to submit the report on or before Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

The letter reads, “His Excellency, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State has directed that all Heads of Local Government Administration should submit the Report of their Councils to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs.

“I am also to inform you that all submissions using the format listed below should reach the office of the undersigned on or before Wednesday, 26h March 2025 for onward transmission to the office of the Sole Administrator, Government House, Port Harcourt, for further necessary action.

“Submission template: Introduction/Preamble, Functions of the Council. Number of Staff on Nominal Roll, stating cadre by cadre, Sources of Revenue Generation in the LGA.

“Activities of the Council/On-going and Completed Projects for the past 2 years, Achievements of the Council, Challenges, recommendations, Conclusion. Kindly treat it as urgent and keep to the timeline of submission.”

Recall that Fubara had directed the former elected Government Chairmen in the 23 LGAs to hand over to the HLGA following the Supreme Court judgment which nullified the LG elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission in 2024.

Meanwhile, RSIEC had, before the appointment of Ibas as Sole Administrator, fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct fresh local government elections after it met with political parties and other stakeholders in the state.

Ibas Suspends Rivers Political Office Holders

The Rivers State Government has announced the suspension of all the political office holders, especially those appointed by suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Those suspended are Secretary to State Government (SSG), the Chief of Staff, Commissioners, chairmen and members of all boards, councils of agencies, commissions, institutions and parastatals, special advisers, special assistants and senior special assistants.

The government said the development was in line with the powers conferred on the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The statement was titled: ‘The Rivers State Government announces the suspension of political office holders and appointees in Rivers State’.

The statement that emanated from the official mailing box of the Rivers Government was signed by the Chief of Staff to the Administrator.

The statement reads: “This suspension takes effect from Wednesday March 26, 2025. The affected officers are to hand over to the permanent secretaries in their MDAs.

“Where there may be no permanent Secretary, they are to hand over to the most senior director or head of administration.”

Diri pushes for dialogue

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has again appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Diris said Tinubu should rather set up a committee to reconcile the different parties to the dispute in the state.

Diri, who contended that the Rivers crisis can be resolved through dialogue, also emphasised that the Ijaw ethnic nationality was not in conflict with the President or the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He made the appeal on Wednesday, at the Emergency Stakeholders’ Congress of the Ijaw National Congress, at the Sani Abacha Hall of the Ijaw House in Yenagoa.

Diri urged Tinubu and the National Assembly to constitute a committee of eminent personalities to immediately intervene and restore peace and bring the legally constituted government back to office in Rivers State.

He said, “Again, I restate that this is the time for dialogue because it is a lose-lose situation for people of Rivers State. l urge Mr. President and the National Assembly to waste no time in inaugurating a committee of eminent personalities that will immediately intervene and bring back peace and the constituted government of Rivers State back to office.

“The South-South Governors’ Forum, of which I am chairman, had urged the president to reconsider his stance and allow for dialogue among the parties.

“However, let me be unequivocal. The Ijaw nation is not in conflict with the Federal Government nor do we have any dispute with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

He maintained that the Ijaw people remain committed to the unity and progress of Nigeria and, as one of the major and largest ethnic groups, alongside other ethnic nationalities, had made immense sacrifices for the country’s unity and prosperity.

He said, “Today, we must again draw from the fountain of wisdom. It is imperative that we resist being manipulated and refuse to be drawn into a conflict orchestrated by desperate people propagating their agenda. We must approach every situation with discernment, ensuring that our actions align with long-term goals rather than short-term interests.

“Our contributions, political, economic, and environmental, are undeniable. We should continue to advocate for justice, fairness, and inclusivity within a united Nigeria. I urge all Ijaws, especially our vibrant youths, to exercise restraint, maintain peace, and steer clear of actions that could escalate tensions. Our future is best secured through engagement, dialogue, and strategic partnerships.

“Let us continue to build a harmonious and prosperous Ijaw nation and, by extension, the Niger Delta. However, while we embrace peace, let no one mistake our pacifist approach for cowardice. We are a people of indomitable spirit, forged by history, rich with courage and stamina. Our heritage is outstanding and we will defend our collective dignity against any form of denigration.”

In a welcome address, the INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, appreciated Ijaw men and women of good conscience, Niger Deltans, Nigerians and the international community for their unflinching support for justice and equity in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.

 Okaba stressed that the position of emergency rule and suspension of any governor by President Tinubu, under whatever guise, constituted a great assault on the principles of justice, democratic governance and the sanctity of the people’s mandate.

He noted that the infractions on the rights of the Ijaws in Rivers, who had been denied the governorship position for over 24 years, were not a partisan issue but a fundamental challenge to the constitutional framework that guides the rights and economy of every Nigerian citizen.

‎Okaba added that the gathering was not another talk shop but to remind the Ijaws that their strength was not merely numerical but derived from the bond of unity and love for their motherland.

The INC leader also urged the Federal Government to reconsider its actions and respect the Sovereignty of the Rivers people.

In her keynote address, rights activist, Ms. Annkio Briggs, said the forefathers of the Ijaw nation like King Koko of Nembe, King Jaja of Opobo, Isaac Adaka Boro and others that fought for the rights of their descendants, foresaw the happenings of today and noted that it was now the responsibility of the people to safeguard and improve on what they hold in their custody.

Briggs emphasised that it would be a great disfavour if the current generation of the Ijaw nation does not do better than their forebears.

She commended those who stood with Rivers State since 2023 when Governor Siminalayi Fubara was sworn in, describing it as true Ijaw unity.

Briggs extolled the qualities of the late Pa Edwin Clark, saying he always led from the front, preempting the oppressors of the Ijaws.

She also appreciated the INC for always standing for truth and justice, adding that any other Ijaw group outside the INC, particularly in Rivers, was only speaking for themselves and not for the Ijaw people.

The one-day stakeholders meeting was attended by prominent Ijaw leaders, including the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the first military governor of Rivers State and current Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, another former governor of Rivers, Chief Rufus Ada-George, a former deputy governor of the state, Gabriel Tobi as well as a former deputy governor of Bayelsa, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah.

Others were Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Dr. Boladei Igali, notable traditional rulers from across Ijaw land and president, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Jonathan Lokpobiri among others.