• 70 CSOs demand Ibas’ account of stewardship

President Bola Tinubu will return to Abuja today after ending his yearly vacation earlier than scheduled. This was as a coalition of 70 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) urged the National Assembly to summon the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), to give an account of his stewardship in the state for the past six months.

Confirming Tinubu’s return, yesterday, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said: “President Tinubu will return to Abuja on Tuesday, September 16, to resume official duties after concluding his vacation.”

His decision to cut short his holiday is seen by many as a signal of his readiness to re-engage with national issues requiring urgent attention, especially the return of Siminalayi Fubara as Rivers State Governor on Thursday, September 18.

Tinubu suspended Fubara for six months on March 18, 2025, due to security concerns in the state. In his stead, the President appointed Ibas to administer the state, a development that raised a lot of dust in the polity.

The President departed the country for France on September 4 to spend part of his holiday, with an initial plan to continue the rest of the break in the United Kingdom. However, he has opted to end the vacation and resume official duties in Abuja ahead of time.

During his stay in Paris, Tinubu reportedly held a private luncheon with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace. Both leaders reviewed bilateral relations and identified priority areas for cooperation, including trade, security, investment and global stability.

The Guardian also gathered that they agreed to strengthen the long-standing Nigeria-France partnership for mutual prosperity. The President’s early return comes as his administration faces pressing governance and policy matters, including ongoing reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to stabilise the economy, attract investment and upgrade infrastructure.

The CSOs, under the auspices of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, said the call became necessary, considering that the mandate handed to Ibas after the suspension of Fubara would expire by Thursday.

“This is very important, especially when you consider that funds belonging to Rivers, initially seized by the Federal Government, were released to the Sole Administrator after his appointment. There is a need for accountability,” they insisted.

The Situation Room, in a statement to commemorate the 2025 International Day of Democracy, expressed worry that the nation “is still grappling” with systemic corruption.