By Bukola Kayode
The Sole Administrator of Rivers, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Retd.), on Friday, met with the Rep. Julius Ihonbvere-led, House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on Rivers Assembly.
However, he asked for more time from the Committee to adequately brief them on developments in the state.
He made the request on Friday at a meeting with the committee in Abuja after failing to appear before the committee on Thursday, April 17 and 24.
Ibas, apologised on his inability to appear before the lawmakers saying he was held back by earlier engagements. According to him, his absence was not out of disregard, but rather due to the weighty and urgent demands of stabilising governance in Rivers.
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He said: “I have always held the National Assembly in the highest regard. I recognise the importance of your oversight responsibilities and your interest in the progress being made in River, which is presently relatively calm, but still fragile.
“It is important that any engagement with this committee is done with the depth, accuracy, and clarity it rightfully deserves.
“I remain fully committed to cooperating with the committee and to ensuring that all relevant information is made available in due course to support your important work,” he said.
“I only request the understanding and the indulgence of this committee to grant me additional time to adequately prepare and present a comprehensive and constructive briefing, given the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the current transitional period in Rivers.
“It is important that any engagement with this committee is done with the depth, accuracy, and clarity it rightfully deserves.
“I remain fully committed to cooperating with the committee and to ensuring that all relevant information is made available in due course to support your important work,” he said.
Speaking to journalists after an executive session, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC-Edo) said that the committee conceded to giving a new date to the sole administrator.
The chairman encouraged the administrator to feel at ease, stressing that the committee members had been carefully selected to ensure broad representation across geopolitical zones and legislative experience.
“I want you to feel relaxed because the members you see here were carefully selected based on zonal representation and membership of the House to advance the progress that Rivers needs to make to be part and parcel of the holistic structure of democracy that Nigeria represents today.
“We have demonstrated again and again our preparedness to do this job efficiently and effectively,” he stressed.
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