Rivers Emergency Rule: President Tinubu Gets The Go-Ahead From Senate, Reps

The House of Representatives on Thursday approved the decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday in respect of the political crisis and the security situation in Rivers State.

The president had on Tuesday declared all elected political office holders at the state level in Rivers State suspended for six months.

By extension, all members of the State Executive Council were also sent packing.

This was sequel to the declaration of state of emergency in the state.

Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution empowers the president to declare a state of emergency under specific conditions.

The House of Representatives approved the declaration of the state of emergency after a voice vote was taken during plenary session on Thursday.

 Speaker Tajudeen Abbas presided over the ‘important’ plenary session,

Deputy Spokesman for the House of Representatives, Rep Philip Agbese recommended the setting up of a national mediation committee to broker peace between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, which was approved by the lawmakers.

The Senate also on Thursday gave the president the go-ahead and okayed the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.

This decision was taken during a closed session on Thursday.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Senate President, Barrister Godswill Akpabio, had earlier read out a letter from Tinubu during a plenary session on Thursday while the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, subsequently moved a motion for a closed session under Order 135 of the Senate rules.

The motion was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro.

During the closed session, Akpabio called for a voice vote, and the lawmakers subsequently approved the decision taken by the president.

‘We hope that the President’s declaration will foster peace and resolve the ongoing impasse in Rivers State’, Akpabio was quoted as saying.

Like it was done in the House of Representatives, the Senate also urged President Tinubu to set up an ad hoc committee comprising eminent Nigerians to mediate between the warring factions in Rivers State.

The president, the senate noted, can review or terminate the state of emergency at any time while an ad hoc committee comprising members of the House of Representatives and Senate will oversee the situation in Rivers State-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you