The Administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has called on the Church to take the lead in healing Rivers State. He made the appeal during a meeting with leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rivers State Chapter, at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Admiral Ibas, who took over leadership of the state following the declaration of a State of Emergency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the Church has a special role to play in bringing peace and unity back to the troubled state.
“We need the Church now more than ever,” he said. “Where the Church leads with love, the people will follow with peace.”
He asked CAN to use its platform to preach peace, forgiveness, and unity among the people, regardless of their political or ethnic background. He stressed that no government effort to restore order can succeed without the moral leadership of the Church.
While addressing the religious leaders, Admiral Ibas said his top priority is to bring back law and order, stabilize the political space, and prepare the state for the return of democratic governance. Since assuming office in March, he has been holding talks with different community leaders to rebuild trust.
He reminded CAN leaders that the current situation calls for bold and honest messages, not just from government but also from the pulpit.
“The Easter season is a reminder that even after suffering comes hope,” he said. “Let’s carry that message into every part of Rivers State.”
Responding on behalf of the association, the state chairman of CAN, Most Reverend Dr. D.E. Kala-Dukubo, welcomed the Administrator’s call and pledged the Church’s support for peace-building efforts. However, he also appealed to the government not to neglect key areas of governance during the emergency period.
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He mentioned issues such as environmental sanitation and the spread of false news, which he said were painting Rivers State in a bad light and scaring away investors and visitors.
Both the state and the Church agreed that peace will only return if everyone works together. The Administrator promised to run an inclusive and people-focused administration.
“We cannot build a new Rivers alone. We need each other,” Admiral Ibas said.
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