ABUJA, Nigeria — Senator Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) don talk about how some of una senators wey oppose President Bola Tinubu emergency rule for Rivers State no fit discuss am during Senate plenary on March 20. President Tinubu earlier declare state of emergency for Rivers State, suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, him deputy Ngozi Odu, plus members of the state House of Assembly for six months.
The controversy wey follow this decision plenty as many lawyers, activists, and politicians criticize am. Some people talk say e no make sense to replace elected officials with one sole administrator. Senator Dickson, wey been be Governor of Bayelsa, waka comot for plenary before the Senate finally approve Tinubu’s declaration.
“Senate no allow us debate this matter for open session. They just call voice vote without giving chance for people wey want to talk,” Dickson yarn during interview. E mention other senators like Aminu Tambuwal and Eyinnaya Abaribe wey also no gree with the president’s action.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio don call the lawmakers wey support the proclamation as patriots but others like Rabiu Kwankwaso don describe the 10th assembly as rubber stamp. “As I don talk before, any senator no need the Senate President’s permission to talk about issues wey concern the public,” Dickson add.
According to Dickson, he talk on the floor that the emergency declaration go against the Nigerian constitution, wey no support suspension of elected members without strong reason. “E be like say na about one hour inside closed session, but no chance for real debate,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, after the Senate approve the emergency rule, President Tinubu praised the National Assembly for their ratification, say this na necessary step to restore order and security in Rivers State. He mention say e go empower the new admin wey go manage the state during this period. Tinubu urge for peace and collaboration among all parties.
The Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd) wey Tinubu appoint as sole administrator don talk say e go make sure no more violence fit happen under him reign and e go work for the people of Rivers. “My mission na to restore law and order, and I go serve without any political bias,” Ibas yan.
Despite all these, the opposition still dey raise eyebrows about the legality of the moves. Some lawmakers don talk say the required quorum no dey during the votes. Dickson and other opposition senators dey question how the Senate fit approve such significant action through a voice vote without recorded count.
“As far as we concerned, this no be democracy, because the Senate no fit just waka go approve this kind of matter without proper debate,” another senator argue.
Fubara wey don speak up against the accusations wey follow his suspension, deny say him dey telegraph any kind attack against oil facilities, say na just political warfare. “I never involved in any attack plans, the allegations wey dey fly around na propaganda,” Fubara assert.
With normal governance don suspend, tension dey rise among the people of Rivers as they dey watch how the situation go unfold. The elders from the state don also raise alarm about the safety and whereabouts of Fubara since his suspension.
For now, the fate of Rivers State dey hang as the judiciary fit still intervene. Senators wey oppose the emergency declaration dey call for unity and restoration of democracy, while the people dey hope for peace and improvement in their state.
