National Coordinator of the South-South Elders Forum in Rivers State, Anabs Sara-Igbe, has argued that Rivers State has never faced a crisis that warrants the declaration of a state of emergency.

He argued that the appointment of sole administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas made no difference in the state, insisting that Rivers has always been a peaceful state.

Sara-Igbe shared his reservation during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.

He argued that Ibas’ tenure was unnecessary and harmful to the state’s interests.

“I don’t know what job the administrator did because Rivers State had been very peaceful before he came, and it has been very peaceful till he left.

“If there is a need for emergency rule, I think that should be in Borno, Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa and other parts of the country,” he said.

He also accused the former administrator of exploiting the state’s wealth without bringing any benefits to its citizens.

“Somebody who is not from Rivers State came in and plundered our resources without any significant development in the state,” he added.

When asked if the feuding parties had truly buried the hatchet, Sara-Igbe answered in the affirmative and insisted this was the only path to progress.

“Sim (Fubara) is his boy, and they are going to make peace, so Rivers’ people are very happy that Sim and Wike have met and resolved their differences, and to that extent, the assembly has also met with Sim, and they have resolved their differences.

“So we believe peace has returned, and we want to sustain that peace. We want Sim to reach out to that assembly once again and to Wike and everybody that is close to him to ensure that there is peace in the state, cause that is the only way development can go around in the state,” he said.