The National Coordinator of the South-South Elders Forum, Anabs Sara-Igbe, has openly criticised the tenure of former sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, describing his appointment as unnecessary and damaging to Rivers State’s interests.
Sara-Igbe, who made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, argued that Rivers was peaceful before Ibas’ arrival and did not need such an intervention.
“I don’t know what job the administrator did because Rivers State had been very peaceful before he came, and it has been very peaceful till he left,” he said.
He stressed that if emergency administration was needed anywhere, it should have been in states like Borno, Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa, where insecurity has remained a major challenge.
The elder statesman accused Ibas of exploiting the state’s resources without leaving behind any visible developmental impact.
“Somebody who is not from Rivers State came in and plundered our resources without any significant development in the state,” Sara-Igbe alleged.
On the issue of political reconciliation in Rivers, Sara-Igbe confirmed that Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister Nyesom Wike had finally settled their differences, a development he described as a huge relief for the people of Rivers.
“Sim is his boy, and they are going to make peace. Rivers people are very happy that Sim and Wike have met and resolved their differences. The assembly has also met with Sim, and they have resolved their issues,” he stated.
The elder added that peace was the only pathway to meaningful development in the state.
“Where there is no peace, there can be no development. Both parties have learnt their lessons from the crisis, and now, we believe peace has returned. We want Sim to keep reaching out to the assembly, to Wike, and to everyone close to him so that Rivers can move forward,” he urged.
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