The Limits of Politics

It is often difficult to draw a clear distinction between politics and governance because both revolve around the exercise of legitimate authority in the pursuit of public objectives. However, while politics is primarily concerned with the strategies, negotiations, alliances, and contests through which power is acquired and retained, governance is about the responsible use of that power to deliver programmes, policies, and services that improve the lives of the people.
Governance begins once the necessary political mandate has been secured and institutions of government have been constituted in accordance with the Constitution and other applicable laws. At that point, the focus should shift from the pursuit of power to the administration of public affairs and the delivery of democratic dividends.
Although politics and governance are inevitably interconnected, there must be limits to political contestation after elections have been concluded and public officials have assumed office. When politics continues to dominate the governance space, public institutions become distracted, policy implementation suffers, and the interests of citizens are relegated to the background.
Unfortunately, this has largely been the experience of Rivers State since October 2023. In the closing days of that month, an attempt by a majority of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara triggered a political crisis that has persisted for years without a comprehensive resolution.
The consequences for governance have been significant. Political tensions have overshadowed critical development priorities, while public attention and state resources have been diverted from pressing issues affecting citizens. Key sectors such as infrastructure, housing, agriculture, environmental sanitation, and the rehabilitation of public facilities have suffered from the prolonged uncertainty.
The instability has also affected the State Executive Council, the highest policy-making body in the state. Frequent reconstitutions arising from the political crisis have undermined its effectiveness. At present, the council operates with only a handful of commissioners, leaving several ministries and agencies without adequate representation at the highest level of government. This situation has inevitably slowed policy formulation and implementation.
The crisis reached its peak with the declaration of a state of emergency in March 2025, which resulted in the suspension of both the executive and legislative arms of government for six months. Such an extraordinary measure underscored the depth of the political impasse and its implications for democratic governance in the state.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has also been affected. Legislative activities have been disrupted, limiting the Assembly’s ability to consider bills, conduct oversight functions, and address matters of urgent public importance. This has weakened one of the critical pillars of democratic governance.
Particularly troubling is the impact on the state budget process. The budget is the principal instrument through which government plans and executes development programmes. Yet, political disputes have repeatedly hindered the smooth consideration and scrutiny of budget proposals. The result has been uncertainty in government operations and delays in the delivery of public services.
The time has therefore come for all parties involved in the Rivers political crisis to place the interests of the state above personal ambitions and partisan calculations. Political competition is an essential feature of democracy, but it must not become an obstacle to governance. Elections provide the appropriate platform for political contestation; once leaders have been chosen, governance should take precedence.
Rivers State cannot afford to remain trapped in an endless cycle of political intrigue while development stagnates and citizens bear the burden of institutional paralysis. The state’s enormous human and economic potential can only be realised in an atmosphere of stability, cooperation, and purposeful leadership.
Those who wield influence over the political process must recognise that the ultimate purpose of government is service to the people. Politics has its place, but governance must always come first. The people of Rivers State deserve nothing less.