No Political Victory Justifies the Bloodshed of Any Rivers Citizen — Ibas

The outgoing Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, has called on residents to put the interests of the state above personal or political ambitions, emphasizing that no political victory is worth the blood of any Rivers citizen.

Ibas made the appeal on Sunday during an interdenominational thanksgiving service held at the Ecumenical Centre in Port Harcourt, marking the state’s transition back to democratic governance following recent local council elections.

Appointed by President Bola Tinubu in March to oversee the state under emergency rule for six months, Ibas noted that Rivers had been plagued by divisions, instability, and broken trust prior to the intervention.

He urged political actors to “sheath their swords,” stressing that the progress and prosperity of Rivers State must transcend personal or partisan interests.

“No political victory or personal gain is worth the blood of any Rivers citizen,” Ibas said. “Politics must never be an excuse to destroy the very state we are called to serve.”