In a wake to validate president Tinubu decision of ‘state of Emergency’ in Rivers state, the House of Representatives has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to affirm his decision on Rivers state. The lower chamber hurriedly granted the approval during today’s plenary session, while made some minor amendments.
Presiding over the session by the house Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, the lawmakers resolved that the National Assembly would serve as the legislative arm for the state while the state of emergency is in force.
It also revealed that if the political crisis in the state is addressed within six months, the president should consider lifting the state of emergency.
However, even as the lawmakers failed to get the two-third majority of the house, in a grand-standing style overlooked Section 305(2) of the Constitution and passed the resolution.
During the deliberations, several lawmakers raised constitutional points of order. But former Deputy Speaker Idris Wase urged his colleagues to allow debate on the issue before raising concerns about the constitutional threshold.
After taking some few amendments, Mr Tajudeen put the request to a voice vote, and members present overwhelmingly voted in support.
In a similar manner in the red chamber, the Senate followed suit to approve the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State.
Tinubu made the proclamation over the protracted crisis in the oil-rich state. He had suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers House of Assembly.
Detail soon….
