Ibok-Ete Ibas left office as administrator of Rivers State on Wednesday, following President Bola Tinubu’s decision to lift the emergency rule and reinstate Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Mr Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers on 18 March due to the political crisis at the times caused by the protracted power struggle between Mr Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is the minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
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Mr Tinubu had promised to restore democratic rule if the situation improved after six months, which he did, according to a statement issued on 17 September.
In compliance with the order ending the emergency rule, Mr Ibas, in a statewide broadcast in Port Harcourt on Thursday, expressed gratitude to Rivers people and President Tinubu for entrusting him with the responsibility to serve.
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“Six months ago, President Tinubu entrusted me with the responsibility of steering Rivers’ affairs through an extraordinary moment in its history.
“Today, that mandate has been accomplished,” said Mr Ibas, a retired vice admiral.
He said that law and order had been restored, local government council elections conducted, and statutory boards and commissions reconstituted.
He also noted that the National Assembly passed the state budget, providing a legitimate fiscal framework for governance and development.
“These milestones reflect the resilience of a people determined never to let their state slip into paralysis,” he added.
Reflecting on lessons from the period, Mr Ibas cautioned political actors against exercising power without restraint, warning that rivalry without dialogue endangered democracy and risked crippling institutions.
The retired naval chief urged citizens to support Governor Fubara and advised political leaders to prioritise unity and stability above personal ambition.
“The emergency rule was never about one man, but about restoring dignity to governance and giving the people what is rightfully theirs.
“Leadership is a shared responsibility. No matter how clear a vision may be, it requires citizens’ active support,” he said.
Mr Ibas commended the civil servants, security agencies, community leaders and residents for maintaining stability during the emergency rule.
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NAN reports that the lifting of the emergency rule and the reinstatement of Mr Fubara have ended six months of uncertainty in Rivers, but the political landscape remains fragile.
Observers note that while President Tinubu’s intervention averted a deeper crisis, questions remain over whether the underlying tensions that led to the suspension of democratic institutions have been fully resolved.
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