Rivers Can’t Afford Another Crisis, Ibas Warns Politicians
With four days left before the emergency rule in Rivers State ends, Sole Administrator Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) has urged politicians and stakeholders to embrace peace, unity, and reconciliation, warning that the state cannot afford another round of crisis.
Ibas gave the charge at the Interdenominational Thanksgiving organised by the Rivers State Government on Sunday at the Ecumenical Centre, Port Harcourt.
The event, which marked preparations for the return of democratic governance on September 18, drew the presence of the Chief Judge, Simeon Amadi, security chiefs, traditional rulers, council chairmen, and captains of industry.
Accompanied by his wife, Theresa, Ibas recalled the events that led to the declaration of emergency rule six months ago and his appointment as Sole Administrator.
He said, “Six months ago, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers 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 walked through those difficult days together.”
Ibas added that God preserved Rivers during the turbulent period, stressing that reconciliation had already begun but required sacrifices to grow. He urged stakeholders to put the state’s progress above personal or partisan interest.
“Truly, it was God who kept Rivers State. The seeds of reconciliation have been planted. These seeds need your deliberate nurture. Rivers people must rise above bitterness, rivalries, and self-interest to pursue the greater good of our state. Politics must never be an excuse to destroy the very state you are called to serve,” he said.
The Sole Administrator warned that Rivers could not survive another round of acrimony. “We must forgive one another and reconcile with sincerity and embrace tolerance. No political victory or personal gains are worth the blood of our brothers and sisters. Let us forgive, reconcile, and heal,” he added.
Addressing the youths, Ibas cautioned them not to allow themselves to be used as tools for violence but instead to invest their energy in building and sustaining peace.
In his sermon, Pastor Ogan Barasin of the Chapel of Everlasting Grace said the thanksgiving was to appreciate God’s intervention in Rivers.
He declared, “We are witnesses to what happened in our state. But today it is a different story. We are thanking God for his divine intervention. Rivers State belongs to God. The plan of the enemy over this state will not stand.”
Barasin urged Rivers people to forgive, love one another, and forget the past. He said politics should not override relationships and called on leaders and stakeholders to work together for the progress of the state.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
