Rivers Group Opposes Ibas On Thanksgiving Service

A political pressure group, the Rivers United for Tinubu 2027, has kicked against the plan by the Rivers State sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, to organise a thanksgiving service to herald the return of democratic rule in the state.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who were suspended on March 18, 2025, by President Bola Tinubu are expected to resume office on September 18, 2025, after the expiration of their six-month suspension.

Ibas had, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Lucky Worika, announced a thanksgiving service to hold on Sunday at the Ecumenical Centre, Port Harcourt.

“The Government of Rivers State is pleased to invite the permanent secretaries, local government chairmen, heads of state security and para-military agencies, traditional rulers, chairmen and members of boards and governing councils, captains of industries, government officials and invited guests to the Inter-Denominational Church Thanksgiving Service as part of transition activities to usher in Democratic Governance in Rivers State.

“Special guest of honour, His Excellency, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd), administrator of Rivers State. Please invited guests are requested to be seated by 9:30 am.”

But, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP Sunday in Port Harcourt, the pro-Tinubu group described the planned thanksgiving service as an empty ceremony, insisting that the people of the state deserve accountability and not empty ceremonies.

The statement, which was signed by the group’s director of Publicity and Communication, Clifford Amadi-Okanezi, said that, “Although it is a noble thing to thank God for the gift of life and for the air we breathe, it is equally important to call out those who attempt to use religion as a cloak for questionable conduct and mismanagement of public trust.”