'They want to create panic in Rivers' - Administrator denies summoning Fubara

The Sole Administrator in charge of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has denied issuing a summons for suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Nma Odu, to appear for a probe.

This followed a report that made the rounds on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, claiming that the Sole Administrator summoned Fubara to appear before a panel of inquiry regarding appointments made under his watch before the suspension.

Recall that in March, President Bola Tinubu proclaimed a state of emergency in Rivers after a protracted political crisis between the Governor and state Assembly lawmakers loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Consequently, the President suspended Fubara, Odu, and all members of the Rivers Assembly. He also appointed Ibas, a retired naval officer, as the sole administrator for six months.

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While Ibas has been criticized for certain steps he has taken, the report on Tuesday raised further suspicion among the public.

However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, Dede Friday, the permanent secretary in the office of the secretary to the Rivers state government, said the report was planted to create panic in the oil-rich state.

“The Rivers State Government has become aware of fraudulent announcements circulating on social media, falsely attributed to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG),” the statement reads.

“These malicious fabrications are designed to mislead the public, create panic, and disrupt the peace in Rivers State.

“One such fake announcement falsely claims that His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, the suspended Governor of Rivers State, and the Deputy Governor, Prof. Mrs. Ngozi Nma Odu, were summoned to a meeting at the Government House on Friday, April 18, 2025.

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“The Rivers State Government categorically states that this announcement is fake and did not originate from any official source.”

Friday urged the public to disregard the report, maintaining that it was the work of “troublemakers seeking to destabilise” the state.