By OFEM UKET
The non-recognition of authorities or control systems of political institutions like the state Parliament, and the executive arm of government in Rivers was gradually sliding into a break down of law and order.
It was a situation in which there was no organization and control in the state because there was no effective government, after the suspension of parliamentary proceedings by the legislative arm of government.
Clearly, the political disputes for the control of the state by influencial political heavy weights culminated into major divisions within the PDP political fold.
The state of Rivers was decending into political gridlock, a situation that had difficulty in passing laws that satisfy the needs of the people, government was unable to act or pass laws because rival parties control different parts of the executive branch and the legislature.
There was complete absence of central loyalty to authorities, smaller political groupings were in control of jurisdictions, captured by the force and weight of allegiance, in certain areas of the state, especially in the metropolitan city of Port-Harcourt.
To forestall a life threatening or impending doom in the state, it became necessary for the proclamation of a state of emergency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, scrambling clearly the organizational ability of certain allegiances to factional authorities.
The emergency rule birthed a reconciliatory process innitiated by the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara. He approached his political godfather to beg for forgiveness, a political scenario that was not on the table for consideration by the duo.
Subsequently, the Ninister of FCT, Nyesom Wike had declared that he is open to reconciliation and forgiveness to restore the state political trajectory.
Again, the previously heated exchanges between supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara, seem to be subsiding.
According to findings, both factions have begun sharing more conciliatory messages online, calling for calm and advocating for peace.
This shift follows Governor Fubara’s recent appeal to his supporters to de-escalate tensions, as well as a remark made by Wike in which he referred to Fubara as “his boy and son,” adding that he was not in conflict with the governor himself but with individuals in Fubara’s circle whom he accused of trying to benefit from efforts they had not contributed to.
Investigations also indicated that Wike and Fubara have held a series of private meetings in recent days.
However, stakeholders—particularly allies of Fubara—have criticised conditions proposed for reconciliation by lawmaker Edison Ehie Lloyd. During an interview in Port Harcourt, Lloyd had outlined terms for resolving the conflict, but APC chieftain Chizi Enyi condemned the former Emohua Local Council chairman for setting such terms.
To further strengthen governance in the state under the emergency rule, President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a budget proposal of N1.48 trillion for the Rivers State Government to the National Assembly for consideration and passage.
The President said the budget proposal became necessary because of the nullification of the 2025 budget of the state by the Supreme Court and the fact that the state is currently under emergency rule.
The President said that ₦324bn of the amount will be expended on infrastructure, ₦166bn on health, ₦75.6bn on education and ₦31.4bn on agriculture.
He added that by the provisions of the budget; agriculture is expected to generate about 6,000 jobs and appealed to the parliament to urgently pass the budget for the good of the state and its people.
Please find forwarded herewith ithe 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State for the consideration of the Senate,” the President’s letter stated.
Tinubu reminded lawmakers that Rivers State has been under emergency rule since March 2025—a situation which suspends the functions of the state assembly. In line with Regulation 4, subsection 2(f) of the Emergency Rule 2025 provisions, any financial appropriation from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund must receive federal legislative authorisation.
“The National Assembly is expected to perform the role of the state legislature under the emergency rule framework,” Tinubu wrote, justifying the request for the Senate to approve the proposed spending plan.
On ifrastrcture, the sole administrator has outlined the building and refurbishing of the state house of assembly, Some local council secretariats that were burnt down by angry mobs protesting against the conduct of local council elections on October 5, 2025.
He had earlier on expressed this commitment during an inspection tour of some ongoing road projects, vandalised secretariats of Local Government Councils, and the recently inaugurated Bori Zonal Hospital,.
Some of the road projects inspected included the Nyhokhana-Kenkhana Road connecting Luuwa to Baani communities and the Zakphor – Bateem Road, all in Khana LGA.
Others were the Eleme internal roads and drainages, and the Eleme section of the Port Harcourt Ring Road project.
The administrator also conducted assessment on the extent of damage of the Khana and Eleme Local Government Council Secretariats.
The construction and rebuilding of the state house of assembly is currently ongoing to provide a conducive atmosphere for legislative duties when the parliament resumes.
He has however described as disheartening and undemocratic the level of destruction of government infrastructure, which had wrongly set the state backward.
He stated: “I think we owe the people the duty to ensure that these facilities and infrastructure are in the best form to enable these arms and levels of government in the state to function effectively ‘.
‘There is a commitment to fixing most of these damaged infrastructure with the limited resources that we have. It is a commitment I think we need to deliver to enable those who are using them return to work”.
There are routine and regular visits to various establishments and institutions by the administrator to determine the extent of damage and vandalism with a view to build trust in the collective efforts to unite the people of Rivers State, so that the State would continue to be a great state that people would want to be in.
Ibas recalled his recent visit to the State House of Assembly and promised that it would be completed on time to enable that arm of government start functioning.
The Administrator noted that there is a lot of work to be done, saying it requires the support of all leaders at various levels to ensure that desirable governance is delivered to the people.
He said: “Within the limited resources made available to the local government, I want to implore those who are managing those resources to put them to judicious use.
“The people are watching. They want to know exactly what we are doing with their money. We need to limit the damage that is being created through delivering good governance. I think, once the people are happy with what we are doing, the chances of them taking laws in their hands will be minimized.”
Commenting on the ongoing road projects, Ibas said roads were critical infrastructure for development and a major facilitator for commerce in any society, which is why he said such infrastructure cannot be compromised.
“The more roads we have, the more commerce – I mean, the means of commuting becomes easy. We are trying to create wealth. Without roads, of course, sometimes, you have your produce, before you move them to the market place, they are all rotten.
Uket writes from Abuja