The sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has appealed to residents to put aside bitterness, rivalry, and self-interest in order to sustain peace and development.
He made the call on Sunday during an interdenominational thanksgiving service at the Ecumenical Centre, Port Harcourt, to mark the state’s transition back to democratic governance following the recent local council elections.
Ibas, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in March during the six-month emergency rule, said the state had been plagued by “divisions, instability and broken trust” before the intervention.
He noted that his administration deliberately sowed “seeds of love and peace” over the past six months, which he urged the people to continue nurturing.
“Political actors must sheath their swords. No political victory or personal gain is worth the blood of any Rivers citizen,” he said.
The sole administrator further urged Rivers youth not to be used as tools for violence but to direct their energy toward building a peaceful and prosperous state.
He also called on elders, community leaders, and religious figures to continue providing wisdom, guidance, and prayers for Rivers State’s stability.
