No political victory is worth blood of any Rivers citizen – Ibas

The man appointed to run Rivers State during a period of emergency rule has urged residents to put aside their differences and work together for peace and development.

Ibok-Ete Ibas, who has served as the state’s sole administrator since March, made the appeal during a thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt on Sunday. The ceremony marked Rivers State’s return to democratic governance following recent local council elections.

Speaking at the Ecumenical Centre, Ibas said the state had been “torn by divisions, instability and broken trust” before emergency rule was declared earlier this year.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Ibas in March to oversee the state for six months during a period of severe political turmoil. The administrator said his government had “deliberately sowed seeds of love and peace” that residents must now continue to nurture.

Read Also: Tinubu’s aide appoints two ‘Directors-General’ and five media aides

“By God’s grace, and with the support of Mr President and all of you, we have walked through those difficult days together. The survival and relative stability we enjoy today are testimony to God’s faithfulness,” he said.

Ibas made a direct appeal to political figures to end their conflicts, warning that no political victory or personal gain was worth endangering citizens’ lives.

“The progress and prosperity of Rivers State must be placed above personal or partisan interest. Politics must never be an excuse to destroy the very state we are called to serve,” he said.

The administrator specifically urged young people not to let themselves be used as instruments of violence by politicians. Instead, he called on them to focus their energy on building a peaceful and prosperous state.

Ibas also appealed to community leaders, traditional rulers, and religious figures to continue providing guidance, wisdom, and prayers to help maintain stability in the state.