Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, were conspicuously absent on Sunday at the farewell thanksgiving service of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the state’s Sole Administrator.
The interdenominational service, held in Port Harcourt as part of transitional activities, drew senior government officials, local government chairmen, security commanders, and heads of agencies. However, the absence of key political actors underscored the divisions that have gripped Rivers since the outbreak of its political crisis in March.
In his remarks, Ibas urged political stakeholders to prioritise the state’s future over personal or partisan battles.
“The seeds of reconciliation have been planted, but they need your deliberate nurture to take root. Rivers State cannot afford another season of division and acrimony. Politics must never be an excuse to destroy the very state we are called to serve,” he said.
Ibas, who was appointed on March 18, 2025, by President Bola Tinubu following the declaration of a state of emergency, reminded attendees that his six-month mandate would expire on September 18. Tinubu had suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly, citing political unrest and militant attacks on oil facilities.
Reflecting on his time in office, Ibas said: “By God’s grace and with the support of Mr. President and all of you, we have worked through those difficult days together. Today, we thank God for peace, stability, and the successful conduct of local government elections across the state.”
He appealed to youths to turn away from violence and commit to peace and development, while also calling on elders and religious leaders to sustain their roles as guides and mediators.
“Let us forgive, let us reconcile, and let us heal. For where there is peace, there is progress, and where there is love, there is prosperity,” he said.
