- Safiu Kehinde
The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
This is coming few hours after the House of Representatives approved the declaration as well as the suspension of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his cabinet, and members of the state Assembly.
In the same vein, the Senate, at its plenary session on Thursday, approved the state of emergency as declared by the President.
Unlike the House of Representative, the Senate approved the state of emergency in a closed session with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announcing the Red Chamber’s resolution after the session.
“The Senate in closed- session received briefing from the President of the Senate on the circumstances of the proclamation of the state of emergency declared by Mr. President, Commander-in-Chief, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) on the state of affairs in Rivers state. And the Senate resolves as follows.
“One, the Senate imposed the power conferred on it by section 305(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, and approved the state of emergency declared by Mr. President in Rivers state, Nigeria.” he said
The approval, however, granted President Tinubu the authority to enforce emergency measures while mandating a review of the situation at any time, but no later than six months.
In accordance with the Constitution, the National Assembly also imposed a joint committee of both chambers, to oversee the administration of affairs in Rivers State during the emergency period.
Additionally, the Senate, as announced by Akpabio, resolved to establish a mediation committee consisting of eminent Nigerians to help resolve the state’s political crisis.
“The Senate further directs that the declaration of the state of emergency stated in the proclamation document and thereby mandate the President to review and even to terminate the state of emergency at any given time but not later than six months.
“The Senate further resolve that section 11(4) be invoked, providing the National Assembly the authority to set up a joint ad hoc committee to overee the administration of Rivers state hencforth.
“The Senate further resolve that the committee of emminent Nigerians be set to reconcile the warring group within the period of the state of emergency in Rivers state.
“The Senate further resolve that the committee to reconcile the warring factions in Rivers state should consist of emminent Nigerians.
“Distinguished colleagues, the Senate hereby approves the proclamation of the state of emergency 2025 declared by Mr. President in Rivers state, Nigeria.” the Senate President added.
Tinubu had on Tuesday night, declared a state of emergency in Rivers shortly after holding emergency closed-door meeting with security chiefs.
In his nationwide broadcast, the President cited the unrest in the state and the pipeline explosion as reasons for the declaration.
He maintained that his efforts to restore normalcy in the state had proved abortive; necessitating the measure.