Tinubu’s Rivers intervention timely, constitutional – Northern rep caucus

The Northern Caucus of the House of Representatives, comprising lawmakers from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, has thrown its weight behind the emergency rule declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the caucus, led by its chairman, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, described President Bola Tinubu’s intervention as “timely, appropriate, and constitutionally sound.”

Tinubu had, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial six-month period, citing a near-total breakdown of governance in the oil-rich state.

The President subsequently appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), as the state’s administrator and sought legislative approval for the emergency proclamation.

Although both chambers of the National Assembly struggled to form a quorum for deliberations on Wednesday, they finally met on Thursday and considered the request.

Speaking on the development, Ado-Doguwa said, “The steps taken by Mr President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces are apt, timely, and constitutionally appropriate.

“As a legislative institution, we will not allow Mr President’s constitutional emergency declaration to fail. The opposition is simply trying to play politics with a matter of national importance.”

He further warned against undermining efforts to restore order in Rivers State, adding that “Nigeria is greater than any selfish coalition and its conspiracies. The constitutional proclamation in Rivers State must stand.”

The caucus also condemned the destruction of public infrastructure, particularly in the oil and gas sector, attributing it to “agents of darkness and provocateurs.”

“In the circumstances, I would like to, on behalf of the northern regional caucus of the 10th House of Representatives, state that we are in total support of the state of emergency declared by Mr President, in the discharge of his constitutional powers as clearly stated in Section 305 of the Constitution,” Ado-Doguwa said.

He also cautioned opposition leaders against politicizing the issue, emphasizing that national interest should take precedence over partisan considerations.

“The laws of the land are unambiguously sacrosanct and cannot be flouted by anyone. As lawmakers, we are guided by moral conscience, commitment to democratic ideals, respect for the constitution, and historical precedence,” he added.