There was mild drama inside the premises of the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, as security personnel attached to the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, openly protested against nonpayment of “entitlements and settlement” by the outgoing administrator.
The development had sparked tension briefly flared as heated arguments erupted among the security operatives.
A source privy to the development said the drama unfolded as the protocol personnel of to the Government were preparing the convoy for the Administrator’s urgent travel to Abuja, Wednesday morning.
The source, whose name cannot be mentioned, said the protocol had informed the security personnel that the administrator was leaving for the airport and that the security men thought Ibas was relocating back to Abuja.
It was gathered that the enraged officers had reportedly taken up the protesting, planning to block the administrator’s movement while chanting protest songs.
The protesters who were also captured in a video posted on Social media, were demanding immediate payment of their outstanding entitlements.
Some are heard saying the former military officer was planning to ‘sneak away’ without paying them what is due to them, vowing that they would not accept the situation.
As the tension grew, some officials of the state are seen frantically appealing to the aggrieved security aides, urging them to maintain decorum.
However, normalcy restored after senior security officials, who came out, persuaded the aggrieved operatives to stand down that the administrator was only visiting Abuja and would be back.
Meantime, the Rivers State Government has not issued any official statement on the matter, but it was gathered that all personnel and management of the Brick House are aware of the development.
At press time, the convoy of the administrator is still stationed at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, awaiting the return of Ibas, who rushed to Abuja for an undisclosed emergency meeting Abuja.
