JUST-IN: Rivers Administrator Ibas Bows Out, Hands Over To Governor Fubara

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), connected Thursday, formally handed implicit powerfulness to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, marking the extremity of six months of exigency regularisation successful the state.

In his farewell code astatine Government House, Port Harcourt, Ibas declared that his assignment, which began successful March erstwhile President Bola Tinubu appointed him to stabilise the authorities amid governmental turmoil, had “restored instrumentality and order” and delivered what helium described arsenic “milestones of progress.”

He listed immoderate of the achievements nether his tenure to see the behaviour of section authorities elections, the reconstitution of statutory boards, and the transition of the State’s 2025 fund by the National Assembly.

Reflecting connected his stewardship, Ibas stressed the request for restraint and dialog successful the workout of power.

“One of the enduring lessons of this play is that the workout of powerfulness without restraint tin cripple institutions, and rivalry without dialog intelligibly endangers democracy,” helium said.

Handing the reins of enactment backmost to Governor Fubara, helium urged Rivers radical to springiness the politician their afloat support.

“Now, arsenic I manus backmost the reigns of enactment to His Excellency Governor Siminalayi Fubara, I bash truthful with assurance and respect. I telephone each Rivers radical to enactment him wholeheartedly due to the fact that enactment and followership is simply a shared responsibility,” Ibas stated.

The retired naval chief, who antecedently served arsenic Chief of Naval Staff and Nigeria’s ambassador to Ghana, described his work successful Rivers State arsenic “another section successful a beingness devoted to work astatine sea, successful diplomacy, and present successful governance.”

In an affectional close, Ibas prayed for unity and stableness successful the state, “My beloved people, whitethorn this authorities ne'er again beryllium brought to the brink of collapse. May we ever take unity implicit division, dialog implicit discord, and advancement implicit paralysis. The Garden City indispensable ne'er suffer its fragrance. May God bless america all. May God bless Rivers State, and whitethorn God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Recall that President Tinubu had successful March declared a authorities of exigency successful Rivers pursuing an escalating governmental crisis, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly portion dissolving governmental structures. Ibas was appointed sole head to reconstruct order.

On Wednesday, however, Tinubu lifted the exigency rule, paving the mode for the instrumentality of antiauthoritarian governance and the reinstatement of Governor Fubara and different elected officials.