By James Agbor
Both chambers of the National Assembly have unanimously approved the State of Emergency declared on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio read the President’s letter during Thursday’s plenary before lawmakers went into a closed door session.
After the session, Akpabio put the matter to a voice vote, with lawmakers overwhelmingly supporting the request.
Announcing the decision, Akpabio said the senate had exercised its powers under section 305(2) of the constitution to approve the President’s proclamation.
The Upper Chamber relying on Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) resolved to set up a joint committee to oversight the administration of Rivers State legislature and a select group of eminent Nigerians to reconcile the warring parties in the state.
Earlier on Thursday, the House of Representatives approved the declaration through a voice voting by the two hundred and forty three members in attendance.
An attempt by the Abia lawmaker, Obi Agwuncha, to stop the debate on the general principles of the letter citing Section 305 (6b) of the Constitution, which requires that the House must have two-thirds of its members in plenary, was overruled by the Speaker.
President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers citing breakdown of law and order while appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas to administer the state in absence of Governor Fubara and the thirty one lawmakers.
