The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has directed the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), to provide regular reports to the National Assembly on his governance activities.
This directive follows the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the dissolution of the state’s House of Assembly. As a result, the National Assembly stepped in to assume legislative responsibilities for the state.
In a bold move during the inauguration of a 21-member ad-hoc committee tasked with overseeing affairs in Rivers, Speaker Abbas emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability. He noted that Ibas must operate within constitutional limits and maintain law and order while ensuring the state continues to function until democratic processes are fully restored.
“Our duty is clear — to uphold constitutional order during times of crisis,” Abbas said. “We’ve done this before in Plateau in 2004, Ekiti in 2006, and the northeast in 2013. Now, Rivers State must receive the same level of commitment and oversight.”
The Speaker praised President Tinubu for taking decisive action, describing the emergency declaration as a patriotic response to governance breakdown and security concerns in Rivers State.
He stressed that the newly inaugurated committee, chaired by Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere and deputized by Minority Whip Hon. Ali Isah, must remain non-partisan and focused on ensuring that the caretaker government adheres strictly to federal laws and public interest.
Quoting Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution and referencing the 2025 State of Emergency Proclamation, Abbas reminded the committee of their critical mission: to help restore democracy and protect the rights of the Rivers people.
“This is not about politics,” he said. “It’s about ensuring Rivers State returns to full democratic governance and that the people are not left behind during this transition.”
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