Rivers State marks end of emergency rule with thanksgiving, sets stage for democratic transition

Rivers State on Sunday began official ceremonies to mark the end of its six-month emergency rule with an inter-denominational thanksgiving service held at the Ecumenical Centre in Abonima Wharf, Port Harcourt.

The thanksgiving service drew an array of dignitaries, including the state administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ekwe Ibas (rtd), alongside traditional rulers, senior government officials, security chiefs, local government chairmen, and community leaders. The event marked a symbolic step toward the return of democratic governance, scheduled to resume on September 18 with the reinstatement of the suspended governor and state legislature.

The outgoing emergency administration has initiated a series of reforms aimed at stabilizing the state before the handover. On Friday, Ibas inaugurated a new Rivers State Pensions Board, a move designed to address long-standing grievances among retirees and restore trust in the system.

“Today’s event is not just ceremonial; it is a reaffirmation of our government’s commitment to ensuring that those who have labored faithfully in the service of our dear state are treated with dignity, respect, and care they truly deserve,” Ibas stated during the inauguration ceremony.

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The newly formed Pensions Board has been tasked with instilling transparency, efficiency, and accountability in pension management—an area that has suffered from years of mismanagement and delayed payments.

Sunday’s thanksgiving was attended by permanent secretaries, board members, captains of industry, heads of state security and paramilitary agencies, as well as other prominent stakeholders, all of whom gathered to reflect on the period of emergency rule and anticipate a peaceful transition.

As Rivers State prepares to return to civilian leadership, the ceremonies underscore the administration’s efforts to end its tenure on a note of stability, institutional reform, and reconciliation.

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