By Sadeeq Kamsela, Abuja
The House of Representatives has voted in support of President Bola Tinubu’s request for emergency rule in Rivers State.
The approval was given after a voice vote on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation during plenary in the lower chambers of the National Assembly on Thursday morning.
The House passed and adopted the proclamation with 243 members in attendance.
It would be recalled that President Tinubu declared emergency rule in the state on Tuesday evening following the protracted face-off between the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the House of Assembly, led by Martins Amaehule.
The pronouncement was the climax of nearly two years of brickbat between the Executive and Legisltative arms of the state government.
Vice Admiral Udo-Eket Ibas was appointed by the present as the administrator.
Meanwhile, the recently formed coalition of opposition, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has kicked against the declaration.
Reading the communique on behalf of the opposition leaders, Atiku who denounced the declaration as unconstitutional and illegal, reeled out the coalition’s demands to include immediate reversal of the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately revoke this unconstitutional proclamation and reinstate the elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and State Assembly of Rivers State.
“National Assembly’s Rejection: We call on patriotic Senators and Representatives to vote against this illegal action when it comes before them for approval. The National Assembly must stand on the right side of history and not allow itself to be used to legitimise an unconstitutional power grab.
“Judicial Intervention: We urge the judiciary to act swiftly in striking down this proclamation, as it sets a dangerous precedent that could be used to arbitrarily remove any Governor in the future.”
He added: “The historical unrest in the Niger Delta should not be forgotten so soon. Past administrations had made great efforts and sacrifices to restore peace and stability to the Niger Delta, which is critical to the economic health and stability of Nigeria itself.
“This federal government should not manufacture political crises that could disrupt the fragile stability and return the country to the past that we have all prayed to leave behind for good.
“We must never allow personal political interests and the desire to hold on to power at all costs to throw the country into unavoidable chaos through brazen subversion of the principles of federalism, democracy, and constitutional governance. This is not just about Rivers State it is about the future of Nigeria’s democracy
