*EFCC Chairman, Finance Minister Also Spotted
*President Receives Ogoni Report From Delegation Led By Fubara
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday evening, September 24, summoned the past sole administrator of Rivers State during the emergency rule, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for undisclosed reasons.
Ibas arrived at the State House about 5:50p.m., dressed in brown native attire, and was accompanied to the meeting by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukayede.
Edun had been seen entering the Villa briefly before leaving, only to return later, carrying a file.
Ibas tenure ended with the expiration of the six-month emergency rule on September 17, following Tinubu’s reinstatement of the suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly on Thursday, September 18.
Recall that during its first sitting at the end of emergency rule, the state Assembly, presided over by Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, resolved to investigate the management of state funds under Ibas’ tenure, and to “to explore the process of knowing what transpired during the emergency rule about spending from the consolidated revenue fund for the award of contracts and other expenditures.”
Some stakeholders also demanded probe of the administrator, who they accused of not improving infrastructure during his short-lived tenure.
Ibas has publicly rejected the decision to probe the state’s expenditure during his six months in office.
Official records showed that Rivers State received at least N254.37billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August when he served as sole administrator.
Details of the closed-door meeting remained unknown yet to be made public as of press time.
Meanwhile, the President also received the report of the Ogoni Consultations Committee at the State House, Abuja, and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reconciliation, environmental restoration and sustainable development in Ogoniland.
The committee, led by Fubara, and comprising traditional rulers, clerics and community representatives, was set up to engage Ogoni stakeholders on long-standing grievances and seek a path to peace and economic renewal.
Tinubu, while underscoring the importance of unity and reconciliation, urged Ogoni people to set aside historical grievances and work collaboratively towards achieving peace and development.
The Ogoni leaders, while presented their concerns, stressed the need for the federal government to address environmental degradation, security challenges and implement sustainable economic programmes beneficial to local communities.
The meeting deliberated on the possible resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, with Tinubu directing his National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to commence engagements and coordinate negotiations among Ogoni leaders, Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and relevant stakeholders to ensure inclusive consultation and mutual understanding.
The President also instructed the Minister of the Environment to embed pollution control and clean-up efforts in the broader peace and development agenda, assuring the delegation of his administration’s commitment to fostering peace, justice and sustainable development in Ogoniland.
He commended Ogoni people for embracing dialogue, assuring that his administration would intensify efforts to complete ongoing environmental remediation projects, stimulate local economic activities and ensure the resumption of oil production under conditions that guarantee justice and community participation.
In a symbolic gesture, Tinubu conferred posthumous national honours, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), on the four prominent Ogoni leaders executed in 1995 during the military regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha- Edward Kobani, Albert Badey, Theophilus Orage and Samuel Orage.
Tinubu, describing the recognition as a step toward healing old wounds, he urged Ogoni people to embrace unity and reconciliation, adding: “The sacrifices of our Ogoni leaders must inspire a new era of reconciliation, progress and shared prosperity.”
