Rivers: Senate Fails To Endorse Tinubu’s State Of Emergency
•••Steps Down Consideration of Motion For Thursday
•••Bamidele Insists Situation In State Has Overwhelmed Fubara
•By Admin
ABUJA – The Senate On Wednesday failed to consider a motion on the proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers State sponsored by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Bamidele Michael Opeyemi (APC; Ekiti Central).
The House stepped it down for the next legislative day being Thursday, March 20, even though the motion appeared as first item (motion) on the order paper for Wednesday, March 19.
This action contrasted with an earlier position by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who claimed that the federal government had secured a two-third vote of the Senate on the issue.
This medium however observed that the Chamber was unusually scanty as most lawmakers were absent thereby making it difficult to reach a two-third needed for Tinubu`s proclamation to scale through.
The Senate as currently constituted is made up of 109 lawmakers, with Senator Ifeanyi Ubah dead, Senator Monday Okpebholo moving on as Governor of Edo State, and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on suspension for six months, hence reducing the total number to 106.
In a copy of the order paper obtained by Daily Independent, the Red Chamber noted with concern that the state has been experiencing serious political crises and disturbances which constituted grave threats to peace, order, good governance, security and safety for lives and properties.
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The order paper stated that the area “has been on a standstill since the crisis started with the good people of River State not being able to enjoy the dividend of democracy.”
In his argument, Senator Bamidele observed that the magnitude of the crises has overwhelmed the state government as parties involved have not allowed good sense to prevail and bring about peace in the state hence the federal government’s attempt to restore peace, security and good governance.
According to the Leader of the Senate, “there is a clear and present danger of the crises as some militants had threatened fire and brimstone with security report of disturbing incidents of vandalisation of pipelines.”
Senator Bamidele in the document argued the need to provide adequate and extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security in the state.
Recall, on Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast after meeting with the service chiefs, the leadership of the national assembly, River State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, proclaimed a state of emergency in the state for six months.
Tinubu had argued that developments in the state in the past few weeks had been of great concern to him as President of the country.
He nominated Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Sole Administrator, adding that he felt greatly disturbed by the political crisis in Rivers State, which left him with less choices than to take a firm stand to resolve the logjam in the oil rich state.
The President decision which drew criticisms from stakeholders with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insisting that “the unconstitutional declaration by President Tinubu of the suspension of the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and appointment of an unelected individual, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) to govern the state is a clear attack on our nation’s democracy, an abrogation of the votes and democratic right of the people of Rivers State to choose their leader under the Constitution.
The action of Mr President therefore clearly borders on attempt at state capture. It is the climax of a well-oiled plot to forcefully take over Rivers State for which the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been bent on stoking crisis to ensure that democracy is ultimately truncated in the State.
The AGF further claimed that the President indirectly gave Fubara a soft landing by allowing all warring parties to the crisis to make amends within six months, as he added that already impeachment threats were dangling before the Governor.
•INDEPENDENTNG.