The National Patriotic Front has commended the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), for what it described as “bold and transformative steps” in stabilising the state under emergency rule.
In a statement issued at the weekend in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Marcus Dakas, the group said Ibas has demonstrated uncommon leadership in steering Rivers through its most delicate phase in recent history.
The group noted that, contrary to fears that emergency rule would deepen instability, the Sole Administrator had managed to restore calm, strengthen institutions and initiate critical projects that are now reshaping the state’s development trajectory.
“The National Patriotic Front salutes the courage, clarity and sense of duty that Admiral Ibas has brought to Rivers State. What many thought would be a lost period of drift has become, under his watch, a season of renewal and a rebirth of confidence in governance. His interventions in security, infrastructure and preparations for democratic transition deserve recognition from all Nigerians,” Dakas said.
The group said security has been the bedrock of Ibas’s administration. By instituting a joint security team to patrol urban centres and vulnerable communities, Ibas was credited with stemming the tide of violent crime and communal unrest.
The group noted that Port Harcourt and its environs, once tense with uncertainty, have recorded a remarkable return to peace and social life.
“The Sole Administrator has succeeded in bringing tremendous peace to Rivers State. Markets are bustling again, businesses are reopening with confidence, and residents are experiencing a sense of safety long absent from their daily lives. This renewed atmosphere is one of the most profound achievements of his administration,” Dakas said.
Beyond security, the group praised Ibas for pressing ahead with key infrastructural and social investments. It pointed to the ongoing reconstruction of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex as symbolic of the return to institutional order.
The group also commended the completion of the Mother and Child Hospital in Port Harcourt, set to be integrated into the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, as a major step toward improving maternal and child health in the state.
The group further lauded Ibas for scrutinising the Port Harcourt Ring Road project, nothing that N150 billion had been released for the dualisation.
They described the Sole Administrator’s insistence on accountability and project delivery as “a refreshing example of transparent governance in Rivers State”.
On the return to democracy, the group expressed delight at preparations for the August 30, 2025, local government elections, and commended Ibas for releasing funds to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RVSIEC).
“By empowering RVSIEC and fixing a date for grassroots elections, Admiral Ibas has shown his sincerity of purpose. He has no hidden agenda but is only a steward of this transition. His commitment to democratic restoration should reassure Rivers people and silence the cynics,” Dakas added.
The group also recalled the recent oversight visit by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State led by House Leader, Professor Julius Ihonvbere.
Dakas said the committee’s commendation of Ibas’ work and pledge to support the return of democratic rule aligned with its own findings that Rivers is firmly on the path to recovery.
“The endorsement from the federal legislature is a strong signal that the emergency administration is not only succeeding has achieved its goal. We urge Rivers people to sustain their cooperation with the Sole Administrator in the months ahead,” the NPF noted.
Concluding, the organisation described the ongoing emergency rule as more than a caretaker arrangement, but a “season of grace” during which Rivers is being repositioned for peace, stability and development.
“Emergencies are often associated with despair, but in Rivers this one is producing renewal. Admiral Ibas has turned crisis into opportunity and laid the foundation for stronger democratic governance. History will remember this period not as a pause but as a rebirth, a grace period in which Rivers State rediscovered its promise,” Dakas said.
