Photo caption: Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has said the imposition of emergency rule in the state by President Bola Tinubu was a necessary step to prevent a descent into anarchy and restore order amid deepening political turmoil.
Speaking during a Special Public Lecture to mark the 58th Anniversary of Rivers State, held at the Government House Banquet Hall in Port Harcourt, Ibas called for forgiveness, reconciliation, and trust among the people, especially political leaders, as the state seeks a path to lasting peace and development.
The lecture had the theme “Rivers State, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Search for Sustainable Peace and Opportunities for Development”.
It brought together stakeholders, academics, and government officials to reflect on the state’s journey since its creation in 1967 and the challenges currently confronting it.
Ibas, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu to oversee the state following a the declaration of an emergency rule on March 18, 2025, lamented what he described as the erosion of institutional trust and governance brought about by fierce political conflicts.
He warned that unless deliberate steps were taken to heal divisions, the progress achieved over decades could be undone.
“This is not the Rivers State we dreamt of. It is not the legacy our forebears fought to build, and it must not be the path we continue to walk,” Ibas declared.
He traced Rivers State’s historic struggle for identity and autonomy, noting its rise to become Nigeria’s second-largest economy with a Gross Domestic Product of $28.4bn and control of over 40 percent of the nation’s onshore crude oil reserves.
Despite such economic prominence, he said, political discord had severely weakened the state’s potential.
The retired naval chief blamed the current crisis on the failure of the political elite, religious leaders, and elders to provide unifying leadership, accusing many of taking sides and inflaming tensions.
He praised President Tinubu for stepping in at a critical moment to avert a total breakdown of law and order by initiating emergency rule.
“The President’s timely intervention prevented what could have been a complete collapse of public order. We are here today because decisive leadership was exercised in the interest of all Rivers people,” Ibas stated.
He pledged to fulfill the mandate of the emergency administration—to restore justice, rebuild institutions, and prepare the ground for a return to democratic governance.
While acknowledging the central role of the oil and gas sector, Ibas emphasised that the future of Rivers State lies in diversifying the economy and fostering unity.
He pointed to opportunities in agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing, but warned that sustainable development could only be achieved through inclusive governance and peace.
“We must rebuild Rivers State on the pillars of peace, unity, and shared prosperity,” he said. “The children of Rivers deserve a future free from strife, one built on access to education, opportunity, and hope.”
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