A notable void was felt in Rivers State on Sunday as both the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the suspended state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, were conspicuously absent from the farewell thanksgiving service held in honour of the state’s outgoing Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).
The interdenominational service, staged in Port Harcourt, marked the end of Ibas’ six-month stewardship and served as a platform to call for peace, unity, and reconciliation among the state’s fractured political class.
In his farewell address, Ibas — a retired Nigerian Navy Vice Admiral — urged political leaders and stakeholders to put the collective good of Rivers State above personal ambitions or party loyalty.
“The seeds of reconciliation have been planted, but they need your deliberate nurture to take root. Rivers State cannot afford another season of division and acrimony. Politics must never be an excuse to destroy the very state we are called to serve,” he stated.
While several traditional rulers also stayed away from the ceremony, the event drew attendance from permanent secretaries, local government chairmen, heads of parastatals and agencies, as well as top security officials.
Reflecting on his tenure, Ibas recalled being appointed by Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025, following the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers amid political unrest and militant attacks on oil facilities. The directive had suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, a suspension set to expire on September 18.
“By God’s grace and with the support of Mr. President and all of you, we have worked through those difficult days together. Today, we thank God for peace, stability, and the successful conduct of local government elections across the state,” Ibas said.
He further urged the state’s youths to embrace peace over violence and called on elders, traditional rulers, and faith leaders to steer the reconciliation process.
“Let us forgive, let us reconcile, and let us heal. For where there is peace, development will follow,” he declared.
The farewell service symbolically closed a turbulent chapter in Rivers’ political history, even as residents await the end of the emergency rule and the possible reinstatement of the suspended democratic structures later this month.
