The Senate and House of Representatives, today, Thursday, passed and adopted the state of emergency proclamation of President Bola Tinubu in Rivers state, and the six-month suspension he slammed on Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Hours earlier, the House of Representatives passed and adopted the proclamation through a voice vote with 243 members in attendance.
The House also made recommendations to the proclamation.
The House recommended that a national committee should be set up to mitigate and restore peace back to Rivers State.
Secondly, the National Assembly should take over the activities of the state Assembly within six months.
Senate…
At the upper chamber, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, announced the passage after a closed-door session that lasted over one hour.
According to him, the Senate relied on its Orders 133, 134, 135 and 136.
Earlier, Akpabio disclosed that Tinubu had written the Senate a letter of proclamation on the six-month suspension he slammed on Fubara.
The letter read, aloud at plenary by Akpabio, said: “In compliance with the provisions of Section 305, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I hereby forward, for the Constitution of the Senate, copies of the official Gazette of the State of Emergency Proclamation 2025.
“The main features of the proclamation are as follows:
“A declaration of a State of Emergency in one State of the Federation, namely, River State;
“The suspension from office of the Governor, his Deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly;
“An appointment of Vice-Admiral Iboete Iba, as the Administrator to administer the State something to any instruction or regulation as made from time to time be issued by me;
“While I look forward to the expeditious Constitution of the Senate, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
Akpabio, after reading the letter, said: “This letter is committed to the Committee of the entire Senate for Immediate passage.”
Dickson kicks
Immediately after the letter, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) raised a point of Order 133 that has to do with having a closed-door session.
Also, Senator Dickson heatedly argued during plenary over the provision of Senate rules regarding the handling of President Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration in Rivers State.
During the Senate plenary, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi moved a motion to reorder the Order Paper to allow the Senate to handle the debate on the state of emergency in Rivers before other motions itemized for legislative action.
As Bamidele stood to point out the order, Dickson raised a point of order, which Akpabio was hesitant to oblige.
Rather than giving Dickson the floor, Akpabio reminded him of how the former Governor of Bayelsa State had gone on television to say he wouldn’t support the Senate on the state of emergency in Rivers.
While Dickson insisted on getting Akpabio’s attention through a point of order, the Senate President asked him to put off his mic.
Akpabio said, “Senator Seriake Dickson, let’s not argue. If we argue, it won’t be good for any of us.
“We are all distinguished people. You were a former governor, and 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.”
Reacting, 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.”
He maintained that his point of order was to draw the senators’ attention to the provision requiring them to break into a closed-door meeting first.
VANGUARD
Comment here
You must be logged in to post a comment.