Ibas Urges Rivers Citizens To Rise Above Division, Pursue State’s Greater Good
As the end of the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu draws nearer, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has appealed to Rivers people, especially politicians, to sheath their swords, rise above bitterness, rivalry, and self-interest, and pursue the greater good of the state.
The Administrator made the appeal on Sunday during an Inter-Denominational Church Thanksgiving Service at the Ecumenical Centre in Port Harcourt, held ahead of the transition from office.
Recall that President Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State on March 18 following the political crisis that threatened governance. The emergency rule was to last for six months, with Vice Admiral Ibas appointed to temporarily oversee the state’s affairs.
During the service, the Administrator noted that the event was part of official activities marking Rivers State’s transition back to democratic governance.
Ibas stated that his administration had “deliberately sowed seeds of love and peace, which require the collective nurturing of all Rivers people to flourish.”
He recounted the challenges the state faced, describing it as “torn by divisions, instability, and broken trust” before President Tinubu’s intervention.
“By God’s grace, and with the support of Mr. President and all of you, we have walked through those difficult days together. The survival and relative stability we enjoy today is a testimony of God’s faithfulness,” Ibas declared.
Addressing politicians, the Administrator admonished: “Sheath your swords. No political victory or personal gain is worth the blood of any Rivers citizen.” He emphasized that the state’s progress and prosperity must always come above personal or partisan interest, warning that politics must never be an excuse to destroy the state.
To the youth, Ibas urged them not to allow themselves to be used as tools for violence, but instead to channel their energies into building a peaceful and prosperous Rivers State.
He also called on community leaders, elders, and religious figures to provide continuous guidance, wisdom, and prayers for the state’s stability.
Attributing his administration’s achievements to collective support, Ibas expressed gratitude: “On this Thanksgiving Day, I thank God Almighty for His mercy. I thank Mr President for his leadership and unwavering support. I thank every Rivers man and woman for their patience, support, and understanding through the last six months.
“The seeds of reconciliation have been planted. These seeds need your deliberate nurture to take roots. Our collective sacrifices and commitment to peace are what we must all strive to guide at this time. Truly, it was God who kept Rivers State. This service is a solemn testimony of God’s faithfulness to Rivers State. We have survived storms—political, social, economic—and through it all, God has been faithful.”
In his sermon, the Chaplain of the Chapel of Everlasting Grace, Government House, Pastor Barasin Ogan, echoed the Administrator’s call for unity, urging citizens to let go of the past and work together to build a better Rivers State.
