Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has called on political actors in the state to sheathe their swords, saying the progress and prosperity of Rivers State must be placed above personal or partisan interest.
This is as Ibas said his administration has planted the seed for reconciliation, but said it’s the people who nurture it to take root.
He urged all stakeholders, including leaders, elders, politicians, and citizens, to put the State first at all times.
Ibas spoke during an Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service in commemoration of Transitional activities to usher in Democratic Governance in Rivers State in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
Notable politicians in Rivers State, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike were absent at the event.
Aside from the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, many monarchs in the state were visibly absent at Thanksgiving.
However, Permanent Secretaries, local government chairmen, heads of boards, agencies, parastatals, and service commanders in the state graced the occasion with their presence.
Ibas said last week that he has ‘successfully achieved’ the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State.
Recall that he was appointed Administrator of the State on March 18th for an initial period of six months, by the President who declared a State of Emergency in Rivers following rising political tensions and the attack on oil pipelines in the state by suspected militants.
Tinubu also suspended the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu and the state House of Assembly for the period, which will elapse on September 18th.
In his address at the event, the Administrator stated, Six months ago, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, declared a state of emergency in River State.
At that moment, our beloved state stood at a crossroad, torn by divisions, instability, and broken trust.
By God’s grace and with the support of Mr. President and all of you, we have worked through those difficult days together.
“Today, as a people, we return thanks to God for preserving our lives, granting us peace, and allowing the successful conduct of the local government council elections across the state and thus laying the foundation for the return of democratic governance in Rivers State,” he said.
Quoting some Bible passages he said thanksgiving is a solemn testimony of God’s faithfulness to the State, saying, “We have survived storms Political, social, economic, and through it all, God has been faithful.”
Ibas continued, “The seeds of reconciliation have been planted. These seeds need your deliberate nurture to take root.
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