The National Good Governance Advocates (NGGA) Group has released a detailed report on the state of governance in Rivers, defending the performance of Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.) while accusing suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of orchestrating false allegations to destabilize the state.
The group reviewed the circumstances that led to the state of emergency declared in Rivers on March 18, 2025, the interventions of Admiral Ibas during his six-month stewardship, and the renewed political hostilities ahead of Governor Fubara’s expected return to office.
The NGGA recalled that Rivers had “descended into political and institutional chaos” before the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to the group, democratic order in the oil-rich state collapsed when Governor Fubara sacked 27 lawmakers for defecting from his camp. Though the Supreme Court later reversed the decision, the group said the damage to public trust was already done.
The report also highlighted rising insecurity, including pipeline explosions and threats of renewed militancy, which posed a direct risk to Nigeria’s oil revenue. The NGGA argued that Tinubu had no choice but to act decisively, consulting security chiefs and the National Assembly before invoking Section 305 of the Constitution to impose emergency rule. “This was not impetuous,” the group said. “It was a constitutional safeguard against anarchy.”
Admiral Ibas was appointed as sole administrator for six months, a move the NGGA described as “a torch of hope passed to a man of integrity and discipline.” The group praised his achievements in security, governance and infrastructure. Within a week of assuming office, militancy threats were quelled, pipeline attacks stopped, and Port Harcourt streets regained calm. Businesses and markets, once deserted, returned to normal activity, while oil production stabilized.
On governance, the NGGA noted that funds were released to the state electoral commission to prepare for the August 30, 2025, local government elections, while the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee led by Professor Julius Ihonvbere commended his performance. In terms of infrastructure, Ibas was credited with overseeing the reconstruction of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, completing the Mother and Child Hospital in Port Harcourt, and ensuring transparency in the ₦150bn Port Harcourt Ring Road project. According to the group, these steps showed that Ibas was not just managing crisis but laying foundations for democratic restoration.
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In recent weeks, however, allegations surfaced accusing Admiral Ibas of inflating contracts by nearly ₦400bn in a bid to “loot the treasury under the pretense of presidential interest ahead of 2027.” The NGGA dismissed the claims as shameful propaganda allegedly sponsored by Governor Fubara. “There is no document, no official review, and no protest from the named contractors—Julius Berger, MCC, and Craneburg—supporting these fictitious figures,” the group stated. They described Ibas as prudent and transparent, contrasting his leadership style with what they called Fubara’s “reckless political escapades.”
The NGGA further alleged that intelligence reports point to Governor Fubara plotting unrest upon his return, including mobilizing youths for confrontation. “This is reflective of the dangerous possibility of Rivers sliding back into chaos and political violence that has long been forgotten,” the NGGA warned. They urged President Tinubu to closely monitor Fubara, scrutinize his policies, and hold him accountable for any propaganda-driven unrest.
The group also emphasized the need for rebuilding the State Assembly Complex to ensure smooth legislative operations and deepening institutional reforms to prevent future executive overreach. It called for security structures to be sustained through community policing and inter-agency cooperation, while urging civil society organizations to resist propaganda and demand evidence before supporting political claims. Contractors named in the allegations were also advised to publicly reaffirm their commitment to transparency.
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The NGGA concluded by hailing President Tinubu’s “decisive intervention” and Admiral Ibas’s “disciplined stewardship.” “The allegation of contract inflation and treasury looting is baseless, malicious, and politically sponsored,” said Dr. Opalu Fabian Opalu, National President of the group.
They described Fubara as “unrepentant, self-absorbed, and vengeful,” warning that his obsession with propaganda poses a risk not only to Rivers State but to Nigeria’s democratic stability. “Rivers State belongs to its people, not to the whims of a rebellious governor. Admiral Ibas must be remembered not only for stabilizing Rivers under emergency but also for laying the foundation for democratic renewal.”
