Ex-Rivers administrator Ibas rejects probe of emergency rule spending

Ex-Rivers administrator Ibas rejects probe of emergency rule spending

Former Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has dismissed moves by the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe government spending during the six-month emergency rule, describing the exercise as a “fool’s errand.”

Ibas, who handed over on September 17 following the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials, insisted that the Assembly lacked the authority to investigate his stewardship since it neither appointed him nor supervised his tenure.

The Assembly, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had during its first plenary after resumption resolved to examine expenditure from the consolidated revenue fund, contract awards, and other spending carried out under Ibas’ administration.

Records show Rivers State received about N254.37 billion in federal allocations between March and August, with more than half of that sum coming from the 13 percent oil derivation fund.

Responding through his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubu, Ibas argued that the probe attempt was misplaced.

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“When you say they were going to probe the tenure of the administrator, was it the Assembly that appointed the administrator? You see, the point to note is that commentary is free. You can’t stop people from running commentary. The House of Assembly has been on break for a very long time, and you will appreciate that they have not been able to discharge their functions for such a long time,” Igbikiowubu said.

“Now that they have resumed, they have to make an effort to carry out their functions. So, it will seem their right to probe what has gone wrong in the state. Nobody can stop the lawmakers from carrying out a probe of what they perceive to be their functions within the state. But like I asked earlier, were they the ones that appointed the administrator? So, if you didn’t appoint the administrator, it goes to reason that you have certain limitations. When you also realise that the administrator was appointed by the president, it goes without reason that the administrator acted for and on behalf of the president.”

He added: “When you also reason that the administrator was supervised by the National Assembly, it goes without reason that when you decide to probe the administrator, you’re invariably saying that you will be probing the administrator and the National Assembly. So, I wish them good luck with their plan and their probe. But you and I know that such an enterprise amounts to a fool’s errand.”

The six-month emergency rule was declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18 following a protracted power tussle between former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Fubara.

It suspended all elected officials in the state and placed administration in the hands of Ibas until the order was lifted last week.

Ex-Rivers administrator Ibas rejects probe of emergency rule spending