Ibas: History will be kind to me as Rivers State sole administrator

• Reflects on tenure

Following the lift of emergency rule in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, the Sole Administrator during the period, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has reflected on his six-month stay in office, summing it up with the with the famous saying of Winston Churchill: “history will be kind to me.”
‘’When I step aside, posterity will not merely reminisce about me just as one who served as a sole administrator but as a proud son of the Niger Delta,’’ Vice-Admiral Ibas said a few hours before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the end of emergency rule in the state, thereby paving the way for Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s return to office.
Also yesterday, the state Elders Council welcomed the latest development in the oil-rich state. It thanked President Tinubu for the return of peace to the state.
The former sole administrator and the elders council consequently pleaded with the people to build on the newfound peace in the state.
Vice-Admiral Ibas spoke at the Government House Banquet Hall in Port Harcourt while launching the state’s International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and new revenue codes.
He said: “Let me use this opportunity to thank all who have supported us throughout the six months of the emergency rule. The reforms we implemented were not always easy. In the process, we made new friends and new enemies.
“History will judge that every action was taken for the general good of Rivers State. In spite of our short time in office, the legacy we leave behind is one of courage, discipline and reforms.
‘’I humbly plead with you to consolidate and sustain these gains for the continuous progress of our dear state.
“When I step aside, posterity will not merely reminisce about me just as one who served as a sole administrator but as a proud son of the Niger Delta who will always desire the best for this great land.”
Vice-Admiral Ibas explained that the IPSAS and the new revenue codes were necessary to address systemic weaknesses in the state’s revenue architecture.
“For too long, our revenue system has suffered from weak or imprecise computation, creating loopholes that encouraged leakages, inconsistencies, and outright losses.
‘’This reform ushers in transparency, accountability, and efficiency. Every transaction will be traceable, every payment verifiable, and every process auditable in real time,” he said.
The former Navy top brass noted that the dual implementation of IPSAS and the revenue codes would fundamentally transform the state’s economy.
He said: “The IPSAS framework will ensure the state’s financial records are comparable, credible, and globally acceptable, significantly boosting confidence among investors and international development partners.”
Vice-Admiral Ibas added that the codes would empower the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RSIRS) to capture previously overlooked revenue streams, deepen its tax net, and substantially enhance its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
“For taxpayers, it means convenience. For the government, it means more reliable revenue inflows. And fo r our people, it means resources will be better harnessed to provide infrastructure and services that improve daily life,” he said.
RSIRS Chairman Israel Egbunefu described the IPSAS and the new revenue codes as a transformative step that “globalises the fiscal identity of Rivers State.”
“With IPSAS, Rivers State is no longer reporting revenue in isolation. It is speaking a language understood by the World Bank, the United Nations, and global financial institutions,” Egbunefu stated.
“This will unlock billions of naira in revenue that were previously lost or underreported and positions us as a credible destination for investment and international credit.”
Israel praised Vice-Admiral Ibas for seeing through the complex reform within a short period, calling on all stakeholders to consolidate the gains for the benefit of the state.
The Elders Council lauded President Tinubu, Fubara and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Minister for ensuring the return of peace to the state.
The council, in a statement by its Chairman, Fednard Anabraba, also praised other parties to the crisis that led to the imposition of emergency rule in the state, including the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly for their patience and decorum while the peace process lasted.
It urged them to maintain the peace and work together to push for accelerated development of the state by avoiding inflammatory comments and allowing the governor as well as the House of Assembly to work as a team.
The elders said: “We urge all stakeholders, without exception, to embrace the peace and reconciliation that has now returned to our dear state.
“We also quickly wish to admonish the few individuals and groups who are still fanning the embers of discord to come to terms with the fact that the crisis is over and stop making inflammatory statements, inciting rhetoric in the media and whipping up sentiments for their selfish interests.
‘’They should prioritise the interest of the state and allow Governor Fubara and the House of Assembly to work together without further distractions.
“We equally commend the governor and the Leadership of the House of Assembly for making peace.
‘’At this point, we can only remind them that they not only agreed on peace in Abuja but also, on their own, went to the Presidential Villa and affirmed their reconciliation before His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
‘’That vow before Mr President remains sacrosanct. Therefore, going forward, they must work harmoniously in the interest of the state. The people of Rivers State expect nothing less from them.
“We use this opportunity to salute the good people of Rivers State for their patience and understanding throughout the period of the emergency rule.
‘’It is an attestation of faith in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose proactive action averted the disaster that was about to descend on the state.
“The indefatigable political leader of Rivers State, the former Governor of the State and Minister of the FCT, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, deserves a special mention for his role in midwifing the entire reconciliation process. Again, he demonstrated that he was a man with a large heart.
‘’He not only brought the parties together but also ensured that the parties went to Mr President to brief him first-hand on the details of their understanding.
“And to our dear President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we say a very big thank you for bringing Rivers State back from the brink and taking actions to ensure the peace that we now enjoy in the state.”

Semenitari : Rivers people are excited
Former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ibim Semenitari, also hailed President Tinubu for lifting the emergency rule in the state.
“It’s a breath of fresh air, and it’s good to have my state back. It is gratifying, and I think there’s relief all over the state. And the people are feeling good,’’ Semenitari said on a national television programme.
She said that gladiators in the feud that made the state fall under emergency rule must have learnt some lessons. “It didn’t feel good being the only state that didn’t have her democratically elected governor, and I’m sure that most Rivers people felt the same way.
“I guess that lessons have probably been learnt across the board.
“What happened has happened, and we just want to move forward.
“What is critical is that the people of Rivers State deserve to have governance, development and to enjoy the gains of democracy and that is for me, is critical at this time.”
She urged the gladiators to always remember that governance should be about the people.