Retired military officers can be recalled by the Commander-In-Chief to duty. What is not clear is whether it is a military or civilian duty. Ibok ete Ibas is a retired real admiral, meaning he served in the Navy or the waters. Rivers State is a riverine state. Was he not the right person to serve as sole administrator? That one is debatable.
He said his mission was to restore peace. Many asked who and who were fighting. Everything that happened (few bombing of oil wells, protests, etc) still happened while he was on seat.
Last week, he declared he had fulfilled the presidential mandate given to him. He did. He wiped off the personnel running the 23 LGAs believed to be inclined to the suspended governor, Sim Fubara. Many felt that he would appoint neutral persons to replace them, or that the ones to be elected would be neither here nor there.
To him, he fulfilled the mandate. Not everybody is happy because they claim he merely collected power from one camp and handed to another. That is his idea of separating fight.
As he organized a thanksgiving church service which was believed to be a farewell event, he said it was to usher in new democracy; at the LGA level or all of the state? Many are waiting to see.
The main highlight was his admonition to the Rivers political family never to indulge in acrimony anymore. He warned that the state cannot afford another season of acrimony and discord.
Read also: No political victory is worth blood of any Rivers citizen – Ibas
He thus advised the seemingly restive and fractious political actors to sheath the sword and think more about the interest of the state than theirs.
Many asked if he did anything to rebuild peace or to host the warring groups since he came so they could talk peace. Many also said what they saw was empowerment of one side to the subduing of the other.
He however said: “We must forgive one another, reconcile with sincerity, and embrace tolerance. Let us remember that no political victory or personal gain is worth the blood of our brothers and sisters.”
Part of his last minute deeds seemed to be to appease workers (serving and retired) who had become angry. He hosted them, handed awards, and in return, they too handed an award of the most worker-friendly person. Many frowned at this.
His media aide, Hector Igbikiwoko, said: “In a decisive move to tackle longstanding issues in the state’s pension system, Ibas inaugurated the newly constituted Rivers State Pensions Board with a mandate to restore accountability, transparency, and efficiency.
During the ceremony the Administrator declared his administration’s determination to end the prolonged suffering of retirees.
