Rivers: Ibas bows out, hands over to Fubara

Ibas

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), on Thursday handed over power to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, declaring that law and order had been restored in the state.

In his farewell address observed by PUNCH Online, Ibas, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu six months ago to stabilise Rivers amid political turmoil, said his tenure delivered “milestones of progress” including the conduct of local government elections, reconstitution of statutory boards, and the passage of the state budget by the National Assembly.

He noted that governance was “a living process” that required vigilance, sacrifice, and dialogue, warning that “the exercise of power without restraint can cripple institutions, and rivalry without dialogue clearly endangers democracy.”

“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. Punch