By Ismaeel Aleem
Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, Administrator of Rivers State, has called for unity and peace as his six-month tenure draws to a close on 18 September.
Speaking at an Inter-Denominational Church Thanksgiving Service at the Ecumenical Centre in Port Harcourt, Ibas reflected on the state’s turbulent past and the progress made under his leadership, attributing the relative stability to divine grace and President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.
READ ALSO: Rivers contributory health agency moves to delist non-NIN beneficiaries from programme
The service, part of events marking Rivers State’s transition back to democratic governance, provided a platform for Ibas to recount the challenges faced upon his appointment.
He described the state as being “torn by divisions, instability, and broken trust” before his arrival.
Tasked with restoring order, Ibas said he deliberately sowed “seeds of love and peace” during his tenure, urging residents to nurture these values for sustainable development.
Ibas appealed to political actors to prioritise the state’s progress over personal or partisan interests.
“No political victory or personal gain is worth the blood of any Rivers citizen,” he stated, calling for an end to political rivalry and bitterness.
He also cautioned the youth against being used as instruments of violence, encouraging them to channel their energies into building a prosperous state.
Community leaders, elders, and religious figures were urged to continue providing guidance and prayers to maintain stability.
In his sermon, Pastor Barasin Ogan, Chaplain of the Chapel of Everlasting Grace at the Government House, echoed Ibas’s message, urging citizens to let go of past grievances and work together to build a better state.
READ ALSO: Rivers APC defends strategy in council polls, urges Wike to join party
Ibas credited the state’s survival and relative calm to the collective efforts of residents and the support of Tinubu, who appointed him to steer the state through its challenges.
