Despite Wide Opposition, NASS Endorses Emergency Rule in Rivers

Despite Wide Opposition, NASS Endorses Emergency Rule in Rivers

•Tinubu Proclamation Unlawful, Says Atiku

•Akpabio, Dickson in Heated Argument over Provision of Senate Rules

•NASS ‘Added Salt to Injury’— Obi

By Joel Oladele

Despite strong opposition from political leaders, the National Assembly yesterday, has approved President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. This decision, which includes the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state House of Assembly, has sparked heated debates and accusations of unconstitutional actions.

On Tuesday, President Tinubu declared the state of emergency in response to ongoing political turmoil in the oil-rich state. Following this, he appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as the sole administrator of Rivers State.

However, the Coalition of Opposition Political Leaders, led by former Vice President Atiku; former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachair Lawal, and some leaders of the Labour Party (LP), has condemned the move as unlawful.

Also, tensions escalated in the Senate as lawmakers debated the emergency declaration. A heated exchange occurred between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Seriake Dickson over procedural rules, highlighting the divisions within the chamber regarding the handling of the situation.

Consequently, the Labour Party 2023 Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, criticized the National Assembly’s decision, stating, “This is not just a flawed procedure; it is a warning signal. We cannot afford to keep gambling with the soul of our democracy.” He called for a return to constitutional principles and respect for the rule of law.

Earlier, at a press briefing in Abuja, the coalition argued that the president’s reliance on the Constitution to declare a state of emergency was misapplied.

Abubakar, while speaking on behalf of the Opposition Leaders, said that all parties to the dispute ought to follow laid-down procedures and, in good faith, implement the judgment of the Supreme Court.

He argued that Gov. Siminalayi Fubara had demonstrated goodwill and appeared disposed to the implementation of the judgment of the Supreme Court.

Abubakar admitted that Section 305 of the constitution allowed the president to declare a state of emergency in extreme cases where public safety, national security or Nigeria’s sovereignty was at serious risk.

He, however, argued that the section did not grant the president the power to suspend elected officials.

The former vice-president said even if an emergency declaration was valid; it would still require a two-thirds majority approval of all members of the National Assembly.

Responding to questions on whether the intervention by the political leaders was not late, Abubakar said that opposition parties had reached out to their lawmakers in the National Assembly to vote against the proclamation.

El-Rufai, on his part, expressed the hope that the national assembly would oppose the declaration.

While Obi was represented by Tanko Yunusa, other opposition leaders present included a former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Waziri, and a former APC chieftain, Salihu Lukman.

Reps Approve Emergency Rule in Rivers

The House of Representatives yesterday gave its approval to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ‘S imposition of state of emergency in Rivers state.

The approval followed a request to the House by the President to get legislative backing for his action in Rivers State.

Although the approval seemed to be unanimous, it was also clear that most lawmakers had no options than to accept the verdict as it came.

Accordingly, there were efforts to tinker with the presidential action, as the House accepted three amendments to accompany the request.
Speaking on the request, the Majority Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, urged the house to conduct their duties in accordance with the constitution and for posterity sake.

Ihonvbere also enjoined his colleagues to focus on what would benefit the people of Rivers State in making their decisions.

In his submission, Rep. Ben Etanabene, representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta, disagreed with the president over where the sole administrator would be reporting to.

Etanabene amended the request by saying that the sole administrator should be allowed to be, instead reporting to the National Assembly.

Another lawmaker, Rep. Ali Isa, representing Balanga/Biliri federal constituency of Gombe, called for a review of the timeline for the state of emergency.

Isa suggested that the president could lift the state of emergency in less than six months if the state was certified peaceful.

Also the lawmaker representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo of Benue, Rep. Philip Agbese, called on the Federal Government to constitute a committee that would work toward achieving the desired peace in the state.

The speaker, thereafter, inserted in the emergency request that a national committee should be set up to mediate and ensure that peace prevail in Rivers.

He also inserted in the request that the sole administrator be made to be reporting to the national assembly.

Abbas equally inserted in the amended request that the state of emergency be lifted at any time before the stipulated six months, if peace was restored in the troubled state.

Tinubu had on Tuesday declared state of emergency in Rivers, in accordance with section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to arrest the political conflict in the state.

By this action, the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu and all members of the House of Assembly were suspended for an initial period of six months.

Akpabio, Dickson in Heated Argument over Provision of Senate Rules

In the same vein, tensions escalated in the Senate as lawmakers debated the emergency declaration. A heated exchange occurred between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Seriake Dickson over procedural rules, highlighting the divisions within the chamber regarding the handling of the situation.

The senate yesterday approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State, establishing a mediation Committee involving eminent Nigerians with a view to helping resolve the political crisis in Rivers State.

The Upper chamber which also approved the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly said their approval grants President Tinubu the authority to enforce emergency measures in the state, while requiring a review of the situation at any time, but no later than six months.

The House of Representatives had earlier approved Tinubu’s declaration of state of emergency in Rivers’ state through a voice vote, adding that in accordance with the Constitution, both Chambers would now form a Joint Committee to oversee the administration of affairs in the state during the emergency period.

Speaking to Journalists afterwards, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim of Ondo South said the senate were to effect Mr. President’s proclamation on wednesday, but for the poor attendance of senators for plenary, emphasizing that the discussion was postponed to thursday to ensure broader participation from lawmakers, many of whom were absent on wednesday due to Ramadan fasting.

However, the senate which had earlier delayed plenary for almost two hours due to the absence of many lawmakers eventually started the debate with the Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) moving a motion to step it down, citing procedural concerns. But no sooner than Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) seconded the motion than Senator Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State raised a point of Order, to which Senate President, Godswill Akpabio was hesitant to oblige, leading to a heated argument over the provision of Senate Rules in the handling of debate on the State of Emergency in Rivers State.

The angry Akpabio reminded Seriake Dickson in a witty manner, how he watched him on television saying he would not go the way of the Senate on the state of emergency in Rivers, even as Dickson insisted on getting the Senate President’s attention through a point of order.

“Senator Seriake Dickson, let’s not argue, if we argue it won’t be good for any of us”, Akpabio said adding “we are all distinguished people, you were a former Governor, I was a former Governor. Please turn off your mic and sit down. I watched you on television. You said, whatever the Senate does, the Senate will never go with you.

“I said you said whatever the Senate does, the Senate will never have your vote. I don’t know but if you have already made up your mind to go on television when the Senate has not done anything or considered any issue, I am not arguing with you, but I say, please allow me to preside.”

In his reaction, Seriake Dickson said: “Mr Senate President, you know we must have mutual respect for all our colleagues, and I do have regard for you, particularly, as our presiding officer and I think that should be reciprocal.”

Dickson said the point of order he raised was to draw the attention of Senators to the provision on the need to first break into a closed-door meeting.

The motion to close the door was immediately raised by the Senate Leader and seconded by the minority leader, Senator Abba Moro and the Senate went into a closed-door session, after which they eventually approved the proclamation of the President for the State of emergency in Rivers state.

NASS ‘Added Salt to Injury’— Obi

Former presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi has condemned the National Assembly’s decision to approve a state of emergency proclamation through a voice vote, describing it as unconstitutional and a further blow to Nigeria’s democracy.

Obi, in a statement on X, said he was already troubled by the “ongoing deterioration of democracy” in the country, particularly the political situation in Rivers State, when he learned that lawmakers had “added salt to injury by using a voice vote to pass the illegality.”

He insisted that the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly to approve such a proclamation.

“You cannot determine a two-thirds majority by a voice vote,” he stated, emphasising that proper procedures must be followed.

Obi warned that bypassing due process in such a critical decision erodes public trust in democratic institutions.

“A voice vote for such a critical matter is not just insufficient; it’s a dangerous precedent. If we can bend the rules so easily, what stops us from undermining other pillars of democracy?” he asked.

Describing the move as a betrayal of democratic principles, he questioned the commitment of lawmakers to upholding the Constitution.

“It is painful to think that members of the National Assembly, who swore to uphold the Constitution, could participate in a process that sidesteps the very essence of due process,” he said.

Obi concluded with a warning: “This is not just a flawed procedure; it is a warning signal. We cannot afford to keep gambling with the soul of our democracy.”