The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Mr Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has declared that his temporary administration has successfully stabilised the state, laying a crucial foundation for it to become a national beacon of good governance.
He made the declaration recently at a public lecture marking the state’s transition from a period of emergency rule.
Recall that on March 18, 2025, to quell unrest in the South-South state, President Bola Tinubu declared a State of Emergency and suspended the Governor of the State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, as well as his deputy and the state legislature for six months.
He appointed Mr Ibas to administer the state for the six months, which should expire this week (September 18).
Speaking at the event themed Democracy and Good Governance, Mr Ibas framed the lecture as more than an academic exercise, calling it “a covenant renewal with the people of Rivers State.” He stressed that the gathering was an affirmation that “democracy must deliver and that governance must always be rooted in service.”
The Administrator stated that his core mandate was to restore order amid severe insecurity, a political impasse, and a widespread breakdown of trust.
He defended the necessity of the emergency period, stating, “Emergency rule was never a choice. It was a necessity.”
A key achievement highlighted was the conduct of peaceful local government elections, which he noted had restored democratic governance at the grassroots level, a move seen as critical to stabilizing the polity.
“The stability we have restored is the foundation upon which democracy must now be rebuilt,” Mr Ibas charged the audience, adding that, “Much remains to be done, but the foundations have been laid. Let us build on it and prove to the world that Rivers State, the treasure base of the nation, can also be the model of good governance in Nigeria.”