Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday – earlier today, March 19 – clashed over Tuesday’s – yesterday, March 18 – declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
While some lawmakers expressed support for the emergency rule, saying it is crucial to restore peace to Rivers state, others disagreed, saying that there is no basis for the President’s action.
This is as many of the House caucuses were engaged in intensive consultation and lobby, ahead of a likely debate on Thursday – tomorrow, March 19.
According to the Section 305 (6)(b)of the 1999 Constitution ( as amended), the President is expected to transmit the official Gazette on the declaration of emergency rule to the parliament within two days, if the National Assembly is in session, or within 10 days, if the parliament is not in session. And if it is not supported by 2/3 of members of each of the legislative houses, it shall cease to have effect.
President Bola Tinubu had in a state broadcast, on Tuesday, declared a State of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu and the State House of Assembly over the political crisis in the State.
Rivers State has been in turmoil in the past one year plus, following a lingering face-off between Fubara and his predecessor, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The conflict later degenerated to the polarisation of the State House of Assembly, with 27 of the lawmakers loyal and three loyal to the Governor.
However, Fubara recognized the three lawmakers loyal to him, saying the other 27 had reportedly defected to the All Progressives Congress ( APC).
However, the Supreme Court in a judgment on the Rivers State political crisis, two weeks ago, said there was no evidence to prove that the 27 lawmakers have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) on whose platform they were elected into the state House Assembly.
Tension heightened in the state on Monday after the state assembly raised a notice of misconduct against Fubara and the Rivers State Deputy Governor.
In the aftermath of the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers, members of the House of Representatives are spoiling for a showdown over the issue.
Shortly before the commencement of plenary, the atmosphere was charged as agitated members of the House gathered in clusters discussing the development.
However, in one of the clusters, agitated lawmakers including two female lawmakers, Marie Ebikake and Blessing Amadi, who represent Brass / Nembe Federal Constituency of Bayelsa and Port Harcourt Two Federal Constituency of Rivers State respectively, were discussing the Rivers crisis when voices suddenly started rising, with lawmakers pointing fingers at each other.
Also, as the principal officers’ procession, led by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, was entering the chamber, some of the restive members were seen moving from seats, with one of them, saying “is this democracy?”
Nevertheless, the Rivers crisis was not listed in the Order Paper, nor was there any communication from the President to that effect.
Also, the chamber was scanty as many lawmakers were absent at Wednesday’s plenary.
The member representing Egbado North/ Imeko Afon, Federal Constituency of Ogun State, told journalists, after the plenary, that the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State by President Tinubu was a welcome development.
Adegboyega said: “It was becoming very worrisome and a threat to our democracy itself. So I think that the step the President has taken is to ensure that we put a halt to that. In my view, that is in order. But there are opinions that it is against the constitution. I am not a lawyer and I have not looked at that very deeply. But whatever it is, that has to be tested.
“From what I have heard so far, I think that this has brought down tension. The issue of whether somebody will be impeached or not is off the table now. Of course that cannot be the only solution because there are so many things that can be done.
“We expect all those consultations to be done and that is why we have a time frame of six months and within that period. We also expect that some of the problems would have been resolved, so that by the time they are getting back, everything will be normal and that will douse tension.
The lawmaker, who stated that the House had expected the official letter from President Tinubu on Wednesday, expressed confidence that when the issue is eventually tabled before the House today, it would be supported by at least 2/3 of the members as stated in the constitution.
However, the member representing Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, in an interview, faulted the suspension of Rivers Governor and Deputy Governor as well as other elected officials in the state, saying it is unconstitutional.
Ugochinyere, who is also the spokesman for the Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers in the House, said he will vote against the emergency rule, when it is brought before the House.
He expressed dismay that “a democratic President is asking the military to take over the government of a state undemocratically because he declared an emergency rule.”
“Section 305 which gives the President power to declare a state of emergency is not in doubt. But the President has no powers to suspend a democratically elected Governor and Deputy Governor and a constitutional House of Assembly.
“There is no place where the constitution gave him power to remove a sitting Governor. There is no precedent for the emergency rule, but if this will lead to peace, we must act in accordance with the constitution and remove the issue of removing an elected officer. We believe that this is unconstitutional and unfair,” Ugochinyere argued.
“Is there a crisis in Rivers now? Are people dying on the streets of Rivers? Is there any danger? Yes, we saw smoke from one pipeline that we don’t know whether it was broken, was that enough for Mr. President to rush into declaring a state of emergency?
“When the Governor called for a peace meeting did those lawmakers come? When he went to present the budget, did they open the gate? When he wrote them did they respond to him? The President did not even mention those ones in his speech. He was busy lambasting the Governor as if he is an appointee of the federal government. That made some of us believe that he is biased.”
However, amid speculations that members deliberately stayed away from yesterday’s plenary, because of the Rivers crisis, the deputy spokesman of the House, Phillip Agbese, told journalists that some members were busy with committee engagements .
Agbese, who noted that though the House leadership was consulted by President Tinubu prior to the declaration of the emergency rule, the parliament would be guided by the 1999 Constitution( as amended) in taking a decision on the issue.
“As a people’s parliament, we will be guided by the dictate of the constitution. That has been our guiding philosophy and guiding principle. We will remain true to our oath of office to continue to represent our people,” Agbese assured.
Furthermore, he noted that lawmakers were already consulting to decide on how to vote when the issue is tabled before the House.
According to him, “politics is about collaboration and partnership.”
“This is about our democracy and I believe that there will be consultation across the board. I am a member of the Benue State and Northern caucus. We are going to have consultations to decide on what position to take when the matter is debated on the floor of the House,” the Rep from Benue said.
