By Motunrayo
Copyright nigerianeye
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice Admiral
Ibok-Ete Ibas, has reflected on his six-month stewardship, saying he was able
to restore stability in the state under very challenging conditions.
Ibas noted that while significant progress has been made,
sustaining peace will require more effort, especially as the August 30 local
government elections have now brought democratic governance back to the
grassroots.
He made these remarks on Tuesday during a public lecture
titled ‘Good Governance and Democratic Dividends’, delivered by Prof. Abiodun
Amuda-Kanmike, SAN, as part of activities marking the state’s transition at
Government House, Port Harcourt.
Expressing appreciation, the administrator thanked Rivers
people for their cooperation and support throughout his tenure, stressing that
he had fulfilled the presidential mandate to restore peace and security in the
According to Ibas, the public lecture was not merely
academic but also served as a reaffirmation of his administration’s pact with
Rivers people.
He said, “As a nation, our democracy must deliver, and that
governance must always be rooted in service.”
Ibas added, “Standing before you, we feel gratitude and
humility; gratitude for the support you gave me as your administrator and
humility that I was called to serve in such a defining moment in the history of
this great state.
“When we began this assignment on March 18, 2025, our core
mandate was to restore peace and stability. By the grace of God and with the
cooperation of all stakeholders, we have come this far.”
Reflecting on the journey, Ibas pointed to the conduct of
the local government elections as a milestone achievement saying, “Most
significantly was the peacefully conducted local government council elections
restored democratic governance to the grassroots, the level of government
closest to the people.
“Emergency rule was never a choice; it was a necessity
brought upon us by insecurity, political impasse, and breakdown of trust.
“Yet in hindsight, it offered us enduring lessons that peace
is priceless, without security, no other aspiration is possible; that when
governance is weakened, opportunism fills the vacuum, endangering lives and
livelihoods, and that the indomitable spirit of Rivers people cannot be broken.
“They endured. They persevered and have remained steadfast.
The stability we have restored is the foundation upon which democracy is now
rebuilt,” he said.
Speaking further, Ibas charged Rivers people to place the
state above personal ambition, commit to tolerance, forgiveness, and
reconciliation to “consciously work at building trust among each other and to
ensure that the dividends of democracy reach households.”
In his goodwill remarks, the Secretary to the State
Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, described the lecture as timely, noting that
it coincided with the transition back to democratic governance.
He commended the people of Rivers for supporting the interim
administration.
On his part, the Guest Lecturer, Prof. Amuda-Kanmike, SAN,
emphasized that the Rivers State experience should serve as a lesson to other
states across Nigeria.
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