Ibas: no political victory worthy of our people’s blood – Thage

By Ayo Kehinde

The administrator of the State of Rivers, the deputy admiral IBOK-ÉTè Ibas (Retd.), He urged the political actors in the state to put aside the rivalry and personal ambition in the interest of peace and progress.

Speaking on Sunday at the Ecumenical Center, Port Harcourt, during an interdenominational thanksgiving service that marks the state transition to democratic governance, Ibas appealed to the parties concerned to “heal their swords”, underlining that no political profit should arrive at the expense of life.

“The progress and prosperity of the state of rivers must be above personal or partisan gain. No political victory, no personal ambition is worth the blood of our brothers and sisters,” he said.

The retired naval head, which was appointed the only administrator in March after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the rivers, said that the crisis paralyzed governance in the state -rich state until recent efforts restored relative calm.

He thanked Tinubu for his support and invited young people to resist being used as tools of violence, at the same time urging the elderly and leaders of faith to continue guiding the state towards reconciliation.

The rivers crisis broke out in December 2023 after the governor Siminalayi Fubara demolished the state complex of the assembly chamber, triggering a prolonged battle with legislators faithful to the federal minister of the territory of the capital, Nyesom Wike.

He worsened with mass defections in the assembly, battles in court and attacks on oil structures.

The Supreme Court, in February 2025, criticized Fubara’s actions as unconstitutional and warned that the absence of a working legislator had collapsed governance in the state.

To the thanks of Sunday, Ibas said that the seeds of reconciliation had been planted but had to be deliberately nourished to ensure lasting peace

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