Ibas Bows Out, Hands Over To Fubara

By Bukola Kayode

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has handed over power to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Speaking at the handover ceremony held on Thursday, Ibas said that law and order have been restored in the state.

Recall that President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on March 18, initially for a period of six months, stating that the political crisis in the state was threatening democracy at the national level. The National Assembly approved the state of emergency as declared by President Tinubu.

President Bola Tinubu on March 19 swore- in Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

Related story: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/president-tinubu-lifts-state-of-emergency-in-rivers/

Ibas thanked President Tinubu for assigning him the task of administering Rivers State during the state of emergency. He commended security agencies for maintaining peace, even as he hailed the resilience of the people of Rivers State.

He said: “One of the enduring lessons of this season is that the exercise of power without restraint can cripple institutions, and rivalry without dialogue clearly endangers democracy.

“Let this chapter therefore stand as a permanent reminder that the health of our polity depends not on who wins or loses but on how political actors manage their differences and on the strength of the institutions we preserve and the unity we nurture,” he said.

“As I hand back the reins of leadership to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, I do so with confidence and respect. I urge Rivers people to support him wholeheartedly because leadership and followership is a shared responsibility,” he added.

… Rivers Assembly

Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly resumed legislative sitting from 10a.m., today, Thursday.

The plenary was presided by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.

It was gathered that the 27 lawmakers had arrived the state some days before the expiration of the State of Emergency Rule declared in the state by the President.