Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas on Wednesday bowed out as administrator of Rivers, following President Bola Tinubu’s decision to lift the emergency rule and the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Mr Tinubu had, on March 18, declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers due to the unhealthy political atmosphere in the state at the time.
Mr Tinubu had promised to restore democratic rule if the situation improved after the six months, which he did following a statement issued to that effect on September 17.
In compliance with the order ending the emergency rule, Mr Ibas, in a statewide broadcast in Port Harcourt on Thursday, expressed gratitude to Rivers people and Mr Tinubu for entrusting him with the responsibility to serve.
“Six months ago, President Tinubu entrusted me with the responsibility of steering Rivers’ affairs through an extraordinary moment in its history. Today, that mandate has been accomplished,” he said.
The former administrator said that law and order had been restored, local government council elections conducted and statutory boards and commissions reconstituted.
He also noted that the state budget had been passed by the National Assembly, providing a legitimate fiscal framework for governance and development.
“These milestones reflect the resilience of a people determined never to let their state slip into paralysis,” he added.
Reflecting on lessons from the period, Mr Ibas cautioned political actors against exercising power without restraint, warning that rivalry without dialogue endangered democracy and risked crippling institutions.
The retired naval chief urged citizens to support Mr Fubara and advised political leaders to prioritise unity and stability above personal ambition.
“The emergency rule was never about one man but about restoring dignity to governance and giving the people what is rightfully theirs. Leadership is a shared responsibility. No matter how clear a vision may be, it requires citizens’ active support,” he said.
Mr Ibas commended the civil servants, security agencies, community leaders and residents for maintaining stability during the emergency period.
Lifting the emergency rule and the reinstatement of Mr Fubara have ended six months of uncertainty in Rivers, but the political landscape remains fragile.
Observers note that while Mr Tinubu’s intervention averted a deeper crisis, questions remain over whether the underlying tensions that led to the suspension of democratic institutions have been fully resolved.
(NAN)
