WATCH THE VIDEO HERE The Senate on Thursday passed and adopted the proclamation of President Bola Tinubu on the six-month suspension he slammed on Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
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The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, announced this after a closed-door session on Thursday that lasted over one hour.
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According to him, the Senate relied on its Orders 133, 134, 135 and 136.
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Earlier, Akpabio disclosed that Tinubu had written the Senate a letter of proclamation on the six-month suspension he slammed on Fubara.
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The letter read aloud at plenary by Akpabio said: “In compliance with the provisions of Section 305, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I hereby forward, for the Constitution of the Senate, copies of the official Gazette of the State of Emergency Proclamation 2025.
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“The main features of the proclamation are as follows.
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“A declaration of a State of Emergency in one State of the Federation, namely, River State.
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“The suspension from office of the Governor, his Deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly.
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“An appointment of Vice-Admiral Iboete Iba, as the Administrator to administer the State something to any instruction or regulation as made from time to time be issued by me.
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“While I look forward to the expeditious Constitution of the Senate, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
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Akpabio, after reading the letter, said: “This letter is committed to the Committee of the entire Senate for Immediate passage.”
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Immediately after the letter, Senator Seriake Dickson, PDP, Bayelsa West raised a point of Order 133 that has to do with having a closed-door session.
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Similarly, the House of Representatives has approved the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, along with the six-month suspension of Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the assembly, as announced by President Bola Tinubu.
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The seal of approval for the president’s proclamation came via voice vote during plenary on Thursday.
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The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the plenary, called on members to make their contribution during the consideration of the general principles of the President’s report.
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In his contribution, Benue lawmaker and Deputy Spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese recommended the setting up of a national mediation committee to broker peace between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly,which the House approved the prayer.
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On his part, the Minority Whip of the House recommended that the six-month suspension on the Rivers Governor and the State Legislature should not be cast in stone.
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“If peace is reached between the two parties, the emergency rule should be lifted before six months,” he said, a prayer the House also granted.
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The speaker had earlier read a letter from the President notifying the House of the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
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Before the letter was read, the House dissolved into an executive session which lasted for about 10 minutes.
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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.
Nigeria Two Legislative Houses Gives Tinubu Approval To Suspend Rivers State Governor
