Senate Leader, Bamidele Flays Critics Of Emergency Rule In Rivers, Insists Action Taken To Ease Political Tension

By Ayodele Oni

Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele has defended the decision of the National Assembly to ratify the proclamation of state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.

Bamidele insisted that the National Assembly should be commended and not vilified.

As a responsible and responsive parliament, Bamidele argued that an emergency “is an extraordinary measure, and it must be treated as such in the interest of peace and without subjecting to the scrutiny of some parochial interests.”

He made the clarifications on Saturday, at the 29th convocation of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, where he was decorated with a honorary degree, Doctor of Law (Honoris Causa.

Bamidele received the honour alongside Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr. Zacch Adedeji and Chairman, Governing Board, Bank of Industry, Dr. Mansur Muhtar, thus making it the third honorary doctorate he received between January 2003 and March 2025.

The convocation was attended by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; Deputy President, Jubril Barau; Deputy Leader,  Lola Ashiru; Deputy Whip, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi and Chairman, Committee on Appropriation, Olamilekan Adeola, among others.

Giving insight into the interventions of the National Assembly, Bamidele observed that the proclamation of emergency rule in Rivers State and its ratification by the National Assembly significantly eased political tension in the state.

But for this laudable decision that prevented further descent into anarchy in Rivers State, the senate leader believed that the National Assembly “has been subjected to all forms of toxic criticism that do not portray us well before the comity of nations.

“What exactly do we want as a people? A federation that functions for all? Or a federation that relapses into an intractable crisis?

“We must recognise that emergency rule is an extraordinary measure, and it must be treated as such in the interest of peace and security.

“As stipulated in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the National Assembly is required to provide its details. The provisions of the 1999 Constitution cannot be interpreted casually without proper understanding of the Nigeria Interpretation Act. 2004.

“As a responsible and responsive parliament that sees peace and stability as a catalyst of growth and development, we were inaugurated into office to promote a nation that works for all and that guarantees the peaceful coexistence of all.

“This desire defines our resolve to ratify the proclamation of the state of emergency in Rivers State with far-reaching provisions.

“One of such provisions is the constitution of the National Peace Committee to midwife the peace process between the Executive and Legislature in the state.

“We should be commended for this laudable initiative and not be vilified by some political actors, who do not bother about what happens to our national security, but about their parochial interest. Regardless of their unpatriotic moves, we firmly stand for the peace and stability of Nigeria.

“We shall continue to leverage the Authority of the National Assembly to guarantee her peaceful co-existence. Our decision, as an institution, is taken purely in the national interest. If any interest is unsatisfied with it, they can as well seek redress in the law court.”

He expressed grave concerns about  barrage of attacks that the opposition parties are viciously launching against the National Assembly, noting that the reasons for such attacks “are purely based on emotion and not reasons; sentiment and not substance.

“Regardless of baseless and needless attacks our critics are throwing at the National Assembly, we are undeterred because we are truly on a rescue mission.

“The essence of the mission aims at bringing our fatherland from the abyss of regression to the path of progression through the enactment of pro-people legislations and by cultivating strategic collaboration with other arms of government.

“Collaboration, in this sense, does not suggest the erosion of the independence of the National Assembly for any reason. Rather, in reality, it reinforces the spirit of interdependence that constitutional democracy entails in order to resolve hydra-headed issues that often clog the mechanism of accountable governance.”

Bamidele, therefore, revealed that the National Assembly more than before “is now focused on building a federation that enjoys internal stability and that rests solidly on the rules of law through the instrumentality of legislation, oversight and representation.

“We are also committed to creating a system that will enable quality education; that will guarantee limitless placements for all our graduates; that will prioritise access to decent houses nationwide; that will significantly reverse our nation’s reports of untold misery and that will, most importantly, remove all barriers to gender inequality.”