It was a day of mixed emotions at the Ecumenical Centre in Port Harcourt on Sunday as Vice Admiral (retd.) Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, took a bow after six months of steering the affairs of the state.

The hall was filled with government officials, security commanders, and supporters — yet the empty seats of two of the state’s most powerful figures, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, told a story of their own.

The thanksgiving service, organised to mark the end of Ibas’ tenure, was attended by permanent secretaries, local government chairmen, and heads of agencies. Traditional rulers, however, were largely absent, adding to the political undertone of the day.

Taking the podium, Ibas did not dwell on the no-shows. Instead, he used the moment to call for reconciliation and peace in a state he described as “deeply divided” when he assumed office in March 2025.

“No political victory or personal gain is worth the blood of any Rivers citizen,” he said, his voice carrying both firmness and appeal. He urged politicians, elders, religious leaders, and youths to bury their differences and chart a common path for Rivers’ stability.

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Ibas acknowledged the turbulence of his short administration, noting that his mandate came at a time of crisis. He pointed to the successful conduct of local government elections as one of the milestones achieved under his watch, stressing that Rivers had been “nursed back to calm” despite the political storms.

The farewell service was not just a goodbye; it was also a mirror held up to Rivers politics — reflecting rivalries, strained relationships, and the pressing need for healing. As the state prepares for the next phase of governance, all eyes remain on its feuding political heavyweights and whether the peace Ibas preached will truly take root.