The newly appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas,(Rtd) has pledged to respect civil liberties and fundamental human rights while maintaining law and order in the state.
Ibas, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu following a state of emergency declaration in Rivers State, acknowledged the challenges facing the state, including a two-year political impasse that has paralyzed governance and threatened security.
The Sole Administrator, in his maiden statewide address, emphasized that his mandate is to restore law and order, stabilize the polity, and create conditions for the full restoration of democratic institutions.
He called for collective effort and cooperation from all stakeholders, including elders, political leaders, traditional rulers, faith leaders, youths, women, the media, and civil society.
Ibas assured that under his leadership, the rule of law will remain sacrosanct, and those who seek to sabotage the state’s stability or disrupt peace will face the consequences.
He also promised to uphold justice and fairness while ensuring civil order prevails.
He said:”The political impasse of nearly two years in Rivers State has paralysed governance, desecrated democratic institutions, threatened security and undermined the economic and social fabric of the state.
“It has deepened divisions among the people, and cast a shadow of uncertainty over the future. These are realities we can not afford to ignore.
“As a son of the Niger Delta, I am one of you. And I recognise the weight of this moment. The expectations of the people, and the challenges that lie ahead. The uneasy calm that pervades the state is palpable and I feel the weight of families, young and old, businesses, that have made both little and huge investments in Rivers State, uncertain what the immediate future holds.
“Mr President’s proactive and decisive action to declare a state of emergency and my subsequent appointment is primarily to ensure stability of livelihoods for citizens and residents, restore peace, security and stability for economic activities to continue to thrive and avert any disruptions to the way of life of the people of Rivers State.”
He added: “My mandate is clear. To restore law and order, stabilise the polity and to create the necessary conditions for the full restoration of democratic institutions and representation.
“This is not a task for one man alone. Success will depend on the collective effort of all Rivers people, elders, political leaders, Traditional rulers, faith leaders, youths, women, the media and civil society.
“I do not come as a partisan actor, nor as a competitor in the struggles that have brought us to this moment. I come as a servant of the state, entrusted with the solemn duty of restoring peace and order so that Rivers State can move forward once again and reclaim its rightful place as the oil and gas capital of Nigeria and I dare say Africa.
“Let me be clear; under my leadership, civil liberties and fundamental human rights will be respected and protected. The rule of law will remain sacrosanct, however, those who seek to sabotage the social or economic stability of Rivers State and national infrastructure and institutions within the state or who attempt to disrupt the peace for selfish or destructive gains, will find no tolerance for their actions.
“There will be no room for lawlessness. No space for violence and no patience for actions that threaten our collective well-being.
“We will not act arbitrarily. But neither will we hesitate to enforce the law when necessary. Let no one be in doubt, we will uphold justice and fairness but we will also ensure that civil order prevails.
“I have just concluded my inaugural security Council meeting, and taken additional briefs from heads of security agencies in the state. I have noted the various reports, initiatives and concerns, some of which I have given clear directives on specific actions. I have specifically charged them to remain neutral, respect the rights of citizens and do all within their powers to maintain law and order while collectively working together to de escalate tensions when they come in contact with such.
“In the coming days, we will move with deliberate speed to articulate a pragmatic road map for the next six months to ensure that every government bureaucracy is properly functioning. Agencies providing services to citizens and residents are doing so and engage stakeholders as mandated by Mr President.”
The Sole Administrator concluded by thanking President Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to work closely with the National Assembly to achieve the goals of his assignment
“I want to thank Mr President for the confidence reposed in me, and for entrusting my humble self with this delicate national assignment.
“Worthy of thanks are the leadership and members of the 10th National Assembly who have graciously approved Mr President state of emergency proclamation for Rivers.The approval gives full effect of my appointment as an administrator of Rivers State
“I will draw on my training, knowledge, experience and dedication to ensure that essence of this historic decision is achieved. I will have to work closely with the National Assembly, under the guidance of Mr President, consequently, I hope to continue to count on their support and cooperation throughout this assignment,” he assured.
Rivers Sole Administrator Vows To Restore Peace, Stability is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
