On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu waded into the murky political instability in oil-rich Rivers, suspending Sim Fubara, state governor, Ngozi Odu, his deputy, and all members of the Rivers assembly. The president nominated Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice admiral, to administer the state.
The changes followed Tinubu’s earlier declaration of a state of emergency.
The president said Ibas, a former chief of naval staff (CNS), would oversee the state’s affairs for at least six months.
WHO IS IBAS?
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Born on September 27, 1960, in Nko, Cross River state, the new Rivers administrator’s educational journey began at Nko Primary School before moving to Big Qua Primary School in Calabar, where he completed his primary education in 1971.
From there, Ibas went to Hope Waddell Training Institute from 1972 to 1976 before pursuing further studies at the School of Basic Studies in Ogoja between 1977 and 1979.
Ibas entered the military system on June 20, 1979, when he joined the 26th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
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His military education saw him enroll in a sub-lieutenant technical course at INS Venduruthy, India (1983-1984); primary pilot training at the 301 Primary Flying Training School, Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna (1986-1987); junior staff course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji (1990); diploma in amphibious warfare from the U.S. Marine Corps University, Quantico, Virginia (1992-1993); and an underwater warfare specialisation at the Underwater Warfare School, NNS Quorra (1994-1995).
He also has certifications from a senior staff course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji (1996-1997), and a national defence course at the National Defence College, Islamabad, Pakistan, where he earned a master’s degree in defence and strategic studies from Quaid-i-Azam University (2005-2006).
EXTENSIVE MILITARY CAREER
As a midshipman, he served on board NNS Ruwan Yaro, NNS Obuma, and NNS Aradu. He later served on board NNS Ayam and NNS Ekpe as a watchkeeping officer after he was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant.
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He was to later become the executive officer of NNS Siri, NNS Ekun, and NNS Ambe between July 1993 and August 1996 as a lieutenant commander.
From August 1997 to September 1998, he oversaw troops at the Nigerian Navy Underwater Warfare School as the commanding officer, and later, the commanding officer of the Forward Operating Base Ibaka from September 1998 to June 2000.
Due to his outstanding performance on the senior staff course, he was appointed as a directing staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji from June 2000 to June 2002.
Ibas later returned to the college in January 2009 as the director of the department of maritime warfare, a position he held until November 2010.
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He parted ways with the college in February 2014 after serving as deputy commandant for two months.
Ibas was the naval provost marshal from April 2003 to June 2004 and was later the principal staff officer to Samuel Afolayan, then-CNS, from June 2004 to July 2005.
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Ibas was also the command operations officer at the Headquarters Western Naval Command, Lagos, from June to December 2006; and from December 2006 to January 2009, he was the commander of the Naval Air Base, Ojo.
The senior officer was later appointed chief staff officer at headquarters, Naval Training Command, Lagos, from September 2010 to March 2011.
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He later became the flag officer commanding Western Naval Command from January 2013 to January 2014.
Ibas was appointed GMD/CEO of Nigerian Navy Holdings Limited in December 2014, an appointment he held until he was named the 22nd chief of naval staff (CNS) on July 13, 2015.
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DECORATED NAVAL CHIEF AND DIPLOMAT WHO ENJOYS GOLF
Ibas retired from naval service in January 2021 and handed over to A. Z. Gambo as the new naval chief.
Later in June, Ibas was among the former chiefs appointed by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari to serve as ambassadors, and he was posted to Ghana.
In October 2022, Buhari conferred on him the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).
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