By ETIM ETIM
Dear Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas
You have been in office as the administrator of Rivers State for over a month, and I will like to draw your attention to a few important things that you might unwittingly overlook, especially with all the controversies that came in the wake of your appointment in March. As a sole administrator, you are in full control of the treasury and resources of the state, and by the instrument of the proclamation of the State of emergency, you are to report to the President and take instruction from him alone. Of course, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike is your shadow boss. But you have no House of Assembly or any other mechanism for checks and balances. You will only work with the civil servants and some persons you may appoint; and they would all be beholden to you. You are free to take any decisions on the finances of the state government as you report only to President Tinubu. But since the FCT Minister is an interested part has a lot of ‘’structures’’ to take care of, I assume that he too would be talking to you regularly.
Even at that, you are the most unencumbered and unfettered chief executive in Nigeria. Rivers State has an IGR of about N35 billion in a month and receives a monthly allocation of N30 billion from FAAC. There is also monthly derivation revenue. That means, in a month, the state receives about N70 billion which sums up to almost N500 billion in the six months that you’d be in office as Administrator. You may award contracts; incur expenditures; make all sorts of payments and receive all sorts of requests or instructions from different quarters. Your tenure ends in September 2025, and may be renewed, depending on how the President feels about you. In a way, you are in El Dorado – a place of riches, abundance and opportunity for endless revelry. It also comes with great potentials for temptation, abuse and corruption.
But this letter is to give you some pieces of advice that may guide you throughout your stay in Port Harcpourt. In the first instance, you should keep in mind that you may be called upon to give account of your stewardship and defend yourself, especially in matters concerning the finances of Rivers State, after your tour of duty. Second, take note that the man that appointed you to this position will not hold his own job in perpetuity. President Tinubu will not always be there to protect you, and so, a time will come when you would be completely on your own. See what is happening to Godwin Emefiele, former CBN Governor and Col. Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser? Emefiele served as CBN Governor in the Jonathan and Buhari administrations. He actually claimed that he was acting on the instructions of the two presidents in everything he did. But the two former leaders have not come out to defend him as he is facing criminal trial for various charges. He has a lot to answer for.
There is a tradition or unwritten code in this country that no former president or Head of State would be brought to trial. But those who served with in their administrations would not be so lucky. Former ministers like Olu Agunloye; Saleh Mamman; Diezani Alison-Madueke and a few other senior officials are currently facing trial. But the presidents they worked for are going around free as if they are all innocent. Another President will come and a new administration will succeed this one. You never can tell what the attitude of the new government would be, and so, levels may change dramatically. Be careful, Sir. I therefore suggest that every request made to you should be in writing. Keep a copy of such requests for you may need it in future to defend yourself. But do not oblige any request that is patently illegal; unethical or dubious, no matter where it comes from.
Dear Vice Admiral, you will be 65 in September (you are just some eight months older than me). You were Nigeria’s 22nd Chief of Naval Staff (2015-2021) and a decorated sailor. You have a proud heritage and a distinguished lineage. Keep away from anything that may stain your records and desecrate your pedigree. We from Akwa Ibom and Cross River are nationally renowned for our honesty; hard work; decency and a sense of duty. Our forebears were sticklers for civility; truth and good values. They had early contacts with European missionaries and Western education since the 13th century. You attended Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, one of the oldest secondary schools in Nigeria. You cannot afford to be messed up by politicians of dubious backgrounds and questionable character.
You have reached the peak of your military career and you deserve to live in peace and happiness in your retirement after a long and successful military career. I recall that after your retirement from the Navy, President Buhari appointed you as Nigeria’s ambassador to Ghana. You come highly recommended with your experience and sagacity. You have the courage to decline any unethical request and say No to every crooked transaction that may be brought to your attention. As a retired general, you are not in penury.
I will like to end by recalling the case of Ahmadu Finitiri, governor of Adamawa State, as a lesson to guide you. In July 2014, Alhaji Finitiri, then Speaker of the State House of Assembly, was sworn in as acting governor of the State after the impeachment of the Governor, Murtala Nyako (a former chief of Naval Staff, just like you) and his deputy, for financial impropriety. Finitiri served for only three months as acting governor until October 2014. But two years after he left office as acting governor, Finitri was arraigned by the EFCC on June 30, 2016 for allegedly defrauding the state by laundering money to the tune of N1.9 billion. The sordid details are available on the EFCC website. He has been going for trial until he was elected governor in 2019; and reelected in 2023. His prosecution will continue when he leaves office in 2027. I’m recalling this case to show that even while acting as governor for only three months, a Nigerian can do as much damage as he wants to; but the EFCC will always be there, watching as an eagle.
