Now That The Stalemate Is Over

The presentation of the Rivers State 2026 budget by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to the House of Assembly last Friday may prove to be one of the most significant political events in the state in nearly three years. More than the proposed ₦1.85 trillion Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development, the occasion symbolised the restoration of cooperation between the executive and the legislature after a prolonged political crisis that had paralysed governance.
For the first time since the crisis erupted in October 2023, the governor addressed a largely full House of Assembly in an atmosphere devoid of hostility. The rancour, court battles, impeachment threats and institutional paralysis that defined relations between both arms of government gave way to civility and a shared commitment to moving Rivers State forward.
This development should be welcomed by every Rivers citizen. The greatest casualties of the political conflict were not the politicians themselves but the people, who watched vital infrastructure projects stall, public services slow down, investment confidence weaken and democratic institutions become casualties of power struggles.
With the emergency administration now behind the state and constitutional governance fully restored, attention must shift from politics to performance. Governor Fubara has less than a year left in office, but ten months is sufficient time to make a lasting impact if government remains focused and the legislature continues to provide constructive oversight rather than needless confrontation.
The budget offers an opportunity to complete critical projects that were delayed by the crisis. The Port Harcourt Ring Road, the Trans-Kalabari Road, the Woji-Aleto-Alesa Road and several other infrastructure projects are essential not only for improving transportation but also for stimulating economic activity across the state.
The administration should also prioritise strengthening the public service. The ongoing recruitment of teachers and medical personnel is commendable, but the government should go further by addressing manpower shortages across the civil service, revisiting the cancelled recruitment exercise of 2024 where necessary, and settling outstanding entitlements owed to serving workers and retirees. A motivated workforce remains one of the strongest foundations for effective governance.
Even more important is the task of rebuilding the state’s economy. Rivers remains one of Nigeria’s largest economic hubs, blessed with enormous human and natural resources. Yet prolonged political uncertainty discouraged investment, slowed business activity and created avoidable economic hardship. The remaining months of this administration should be devoted to restoring investor confidence, supporting local enterprise, improving infrastructure and creating an environment where businesses can flourish once again.
The cordial relationship now evident between the executive and the legislature must not be viewed as a temporary truce but as the beginning of a new political culture in Rivers State. Democracy functions best when institutions work together within their constitutional limits while holding one another accountable in the public interest.
Governor Fubara’s position is unique. With no re-election campaign to distract him, he has the opportunity to devote his full attention to governance and to leave behind a legacy defined not by political battles but by measurable achievements.
The 2026 budget should therefore become more than a financial document. It should be the instrument through which Rivers State heals from the divisions of the past three years, revives its economy and restores confidence in democratic governance.
Now that the stalemate is over, Rivers people deserve the dividends of peace. The politics has run its course; this is the time for governance. History will judge all those involved not by the battles they fought but by the future they helped rebuild.