Despite the fact that the state’s sole administrator, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), left over N600 billion in state accounts upon his departure in September, the Rivers State House of Assembly and Governor Siminalayi Fubara are embroiled in a new crisis as lawmakers criticized the state government for allegedly abandoning public schools.
Fubara, however, pondered on the political crisis that devastated Rivers State, noting that he found peace only after the six-month emergency rule established by President Bola Tinubu was abolished.
Six months after assuming office in 2023, a conflict between Fubara and his predecessor and political godfather, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, erupted into a serious political crisis.
The standoff led to the appearance of two Speakers in the House of Assembly—Martin Amaewhule, loyal to Wike, and Edison Ehie, loyal to Fubara—following the bombing of the Assembly building amid suspicions of an impeachment conspiracy against the governor.
As the issue crested in March 2025, President Tinubu announced a six-month emergency rule, suspending both the governor and legislature and appointing Ibas as Sole Administrator.
The emergency rule ended on September 18, 2025, after which both the governor and the Assembly resumed duties, resolving to work cooperatively.
Fubara visited the Assembly facility, which is still under construction, last week and expressed his satisfaction that it will be prepared for the 2026 budget presentation this month.
On Monday, however, his administration came under fire from lawmakers for giving public school infrastructure a “lip service.”
Igwe Aforji, the chairman of the House Committee on Education, visited Township Schools 1 and 2 on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt and described the facilities as appalling.
Speaker Amaewhule said pupils are learning under awful conditions and teachers are overstretched.
“As of yesterday the House committee chairman on education found out that one teacher is teaching two classes—Primary 1 and 2—in one classroom. So the teacher will teach Primary 1 a little while Primary 2 is listening to Primary 1 class. Then Primary 1 will stop listening while the teacher teaches Primary 2. They are in the same classroom, so perhaps they are obstructing their ears,” he remarked.
He also emphasized the dearth of basic facilities, pointing out that a school next to the government house and the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company offices lacked security, power, and restrooms.
“Vandals have taken over the school. They ruin the meager facilities they have there. The Rivers State Executive Council has not done anything,” he said.
Amaewhule bemoaned the fact that public schools are still in a “shameful state” despite the immediate prior administrator, Ibas, leaving about N600 billion in state coffers. He cautioned,
“We cannot continue to fold our arms while our children continue to suffer, while teachers continue to cry. In a state like Rivers, in 2025, one teacher will be teaching two classrooms under one roof—how can anyone accept that?
“No toilet, no electricity, yet that school is sharing a fence with the PHED headquarters. Vandals have taken over the school… It is an abomination, it is an abnormality and it is unacceptable.”
In a subdued reply, Governor Fubara stated that enhancing education is a top priority and declared that it will receive the biggest budgetary allocation in 2026.
Although he admitted that schools were in terrible condition, he emphasized that the deterioration existed before his government and was exploited by rivals in the 2023 elections.
“You are all aware of how terrible our schools are. They didn’t get that way in one month or one year. If you remember, one of the things they used in insulting me when I was campaigning was, ‘What are you doing? You say you wish to continue. There are no teachers in Etche, Gokana and other sections of the state,’” he said.
Fubara considered the political problem as well, stating that it hindered advancement.
“If you want to be honest with yourself, I can only say that I experienced tranquility once we returned from the emergency. Tell me, was there a month before to that regrettable event when we took a week off?
He promised that his team was working strategically to reverse the deterioration in education, citing his training in public administration as influencing his approach to planning and reform.
On healthcare, he alluded to ongoing upgrades of zonal hospitals and investments in workers’ welfare.
In terms of employment, Fubara stated that the government is still dedicated to generating jobs, including the 10,000 positions that are expected to become available. However, he emphasized that hiring would be determined by the needs of the state and would not be politicized.
Monday’s meeting, which was the 3rd and 4th combined quarterly session of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers for the year, also saw the governor congratulate traditional rulers for helping maintain peace throughout the political deadlock.
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