Fubara
Rivers State Sole Administrator, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), on Thursday handed over power to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, declaring that law and order had been restored in the state.
Following the declaration of an emergency rule six months ago, President Bola Tinubu appointed I as to stabilise Rivers amid political turmoil.
Giving his farewell address , Ibas gave a scorecard of his tenure which he said said hisdelivered “milestones of progress” including the conduct of local government elections, reconstitution of statutory boards, and the passage of the state budget by the National Assembly.
Noting that governance is “a living process”, that requires vigilance, sacrifice, and dialogue, he warned that “the exercise of power without restraint can cripple institutions, and rivalry without dialogue clearly endangers democracy.”
His words, “One of the enduring lessons of this season is that the exercise of power without restraint can cripple institutions, and rivalry without dialogue clearly endangers democracy.
“Let this chapter therefore stand as a permanent reminder that the health of our polity depends not on who wins or loses but on how political actors manage their differences and on the strength of the institutions we preserve and the unity we nurture”.
Ibas expressed gratitude to Tinubu for entrusting him with the assignment, praised security operatives for maintaining peace, and commended the resilience of the people of Rivers State.
He said, “Now, as I hand back the reigns of leadership to His Excellency Governor Siminalayi Fubara, I do so with confidence and respect. I call all Rivers people to support him wholeheartedly because leadership and followership is a shared responsibility.
“No matter how competent and no matter how clear your vision may be, it can only come to fruition and thrive with the active support of citizens. For me, this is the closing of another chapter in life devoted to service at sea, in diplomacy, and now in governance.
“My dear people, may this state never again be brought to the brink of collapse. May we always choose unity over division, dialogue over discord, and progress over paralysis. The garden city must never lose its fragrance. May God bless us all. May God bless River State and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Tinubu had on March 18 this year slammed the State of Emergency in Rivers State, following months of political turmoil that paralysed governance and threatened security in the oil-rich state.
The President had appointed Ibas as administrator after dissolving political structures to restore order.
However, Tinubu, on Wednesday, formally declared an end to the State of Emergency in Rivers State, clearing the way for the return of full democratic governance in the state.
