Tinubu-Appointed Sole Administrator Worsens Rivers Crisis, Destroys Fubara’s Billboard

Tinubu-Appointed Sole Administrator Worsens Rivers Crisis, Destroys Fubara’s Billboard

 

 

Newsweekng has obtained a disturbing viral video showing the destruction of a billboard bearing the image of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area has intensified the political crisis engulfing Rivers State.

 

 

The act, allegedly carried out under the directive of the newly appointed Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.), has reignited public anger and renewed criticism of his controversial role since assuming office..

 

The dramatic scene is the latest flashpoint in an ongoing political crisis that has gripped Rivers State since March, when President Bola Tinubu suspended Governor Fubara under controversial circumstances. In his place, the president appointed a sole administrator, Ibok-ete Ibas, to oversee the state’s affairs for an initial period of six months.

 

The Viral Billboard

 

Incident The latest controversy erupted after a video surfaced online showing the governor’s billboard being forcefully taken down at the Obio/Akpor LGA Council premises. This act followed immediately after the swearing-in of newly selected Local Government Administrators by the Sole Administrator—a ceremony boycotted by several key political figures in the state.

 

 

Rather than easing the crisis in the state, Ibas’s leadership has ushered in sweeping changes, including the suspension of Fubara’s loyalists and a full-scale reshuffle of local government leadership across all 23 LGAs. The move has further deepened political divisions in the state.

 

Critics have described the recent appointments as a strategic power play favouring former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, a known political adversary of Fubara. They argue that the growing centralization of authority under Ibas is an attempt to sideline Fubara’s political structure and entrench Wike’s influence.

 

“This is not governance—it’s political demolition,” said a member of the Rivers State Assembly loyal to Fubara, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal. “What we are witnessing is the dismantling of democracy in real-time.”

 

Neither Dr. Walter nor representatives from the sole administrator’s office have issued a formal statement regarding the billboard incident. Meanwhile, pro-Fubara youth groups have condemned the act as “provocative and disrespectful,” warning it could incite unrest.

 

As Rivers State braces for the fallout, political analysts warn that unless urgent steps are taken to resolve the leadership crisis, the state could face deeper instability in the months ahead.