Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, on Thursday told officials administering Rivers State under emergency rule that the intervention was not a replacement for democracy, but a constitutional response to restore order amid crisis.
Bamidele, who is also Chairman of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee overseeing the state’s emergency administration, gave the charge during the defence of Rivers’ ₦1.4 trillion 2025 budget at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Speaking to the committee and Rivers officials, Bamidele emphasised that emergency rule was provided for under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and was intended to stabilise regions in turmoil.
He said, “Emergency rule is not a replacement for democratic government in any political climate.
“Rather, it is an extraordinary measure designed to restore order in times of disorder, peace in place of conflict, and stability instead of instability.”
The Senate Leader said the committee would closely monitor the implementation of the budget to ensure that allocations benefit the people of Rivers State.
Bamidele said, “We are not only tasked with evaluating figures, but also with ensuring the faithful execution of the budget.
“When allocations on paper become tangible solutions on the ground, citizens’ trust in governance is restored.”
He further disclosed that continuous oversight would focus on critical sectors such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security.
Missing Financial Records Delay Review — Rivers Administrator
Meanwhile, Ibok-Ete Ibas, the sole administrator of Rivers, told the lawmakers that some officials had refused to release critical financial documents, affecting the full review of first-quarter expenditure.
“Some state officials withheld critical information required to ensure a more complete capture of expenditures undertaken in the first quarter,” Ibas stated.
He acknowledged that while the 2025 budget might not be flawless due to the surrounding circumstances, it remained consistent with the Rivers State Development Plan (2017–2027).
Ibas said, “The budget is crafted as a people-centred fiscal blueprint, responsive to present challenges and future development imperatives.”
President Bola Tinubu had declared emergency rule in Rivers State on March 18, following months of political instability. In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio constituted an 18-member ad hoc committee led by Bamidele to oversee the state’s administration.
Members of the panel include Senator Tahir Munguno (Chief Whip), Senator Peter Nwebonyi (Deputy Chief Whip), Senator Adamu Aliero (Chair, Land Transport), Senator Sani Musa (Chair, Finance), and Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (Chair, Banking and Insurance), among others.