Former PDP National Chairman and ex-Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, has questioned the recurring trend of appointing military officers as administrators whenever a governor is suspended under a state of emergency.
His remarks follow the recent appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator of Rivers State after Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s suspension.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, On March 18, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing prolonged political instability and security challenges, including rampant pipeline vandalism that threatened national economic interests.
This decision led to the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the entire state House of Assembly for an initial period of six months. In their place, Vice Admiral Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, was installed as the state’s administrator.
Ogbeh, speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme from 16:39, expressed concerns over the government’s consistent reliance on military personnel to oversee civilian governance during political crises.
He noted that similar appointments had occurred in the past, raising questions about whether Nigeria is unconsciously reverting to military-style governance despite being a democratic nation.
He pointed out that states like Borno, which faced severe security threats from Boko Haram insurgency, did not undergo such emergency interventions, making the decision in Rivers State appear selective.
According to him, the preference for military figures suggests a lack of confidence in civilian institutions to resolve political disputes, further weakening democratic structures.
In his words: “Why is it that each time a governor is suspended, a military officer is appointed in their place? Do we miss military rule, or are we suggesting that civilians are incapable of governing themselves? Obasanjo did it twice, even thrice, and now Tinubu has done it again. What’s the logic? This is why the imposition of a state of emergency should be avoided. This was not done in Borno State at the height of the Boko Haram insurgency, even though the situation there was far more chaotic. But it’s up to the president. Since the constitution does not specify that the president must pick a particular type of person, he is free to do so. However, this also sends a troubling signal—that civilians cannot govern themselves—and that’s not a good one.”