The Chief of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele on Saturday defended the choice of the Nationwide Meeting to ratify the proclamation of state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, saying that they need to be counseled and never vilified.
As a accountable and responsive parliament, Bamidele argued that an emergency is a rare measure, and it have to be handled as such within the curiosity of peace and with out subjecting to the scrutiny of some parochial pursuits.”
He made these clarifications over the weekend on the twenty ninth convocation of Ekiti State College (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State the place he was embellished with a honorary diploma, Physician of Legislation (Honoris Causa.
Bamidele acquired the honour alongside Chairman, Federal Inland Income Service, Zacch Adedeji and Chairman, Governing Board, Financial institution of Trade, Mansur Muhtar, thus making it the third honorary doctorate he had acquired between January 2003 and March 2025.
The convocation was attended by President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jubril Barau; Deputy Chief of the Senate, Senator Lola Ashiru; Deputy Whip of the Senate, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi and Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, amongst others.
Learn additionally: Bamidele celebrates Tinubu at 73, says he’s a brave reformer
Giving perception into the patriotic interventions of the Nationwide Meeting, Bamidele noticed that the proclamation of emergency rule in Rivers State and its ratification by the Nationwide Meeting considerably eased political stress within the state.
However for this laudable choice that prevented additional descent into anarchy in Rivers State, the senate chief mentioned the Nationwide Meeting has been subjected to all types of poisonous criticism that don’t painting us properly earlier than the comity of countries.
“What precisely do we wish as a folks? A federation that capabilities for all? Or a federation that relapses into an intractable disaster? We should recognise that emergency rule is a rare measure, and it have to be handled as such within the curiosity of peace and safety.
“As stipulated in Part 305 of the 1999 Structure (as amended), the Nationwide Meeting is required to supply its particulars. The provisions of the 1999 Structure can’t be interpreted casually with out correct understanding of the Nigeria Interpretation Act. 2004.
“As a accountable and responsive parliament that sees peace and stability as a catalyst of development and improvement, we had been inaugurated into workplace to advertise a nation that works for all and that ensures the peaceable coexistence of all.
This need defines our resolve to ratify the proclamation of the state of emergency in Rivers State with far-reaching provisions. Certainly one of such provisions is the structure of the Nationwide Peace Committee to midwife the peace course of between the Govt and Legislature within the state.
“We needs to be counseled for this laudable initiative and never be vilified by some political actors, who don’t trouble about what occurs to our nationwide safety, however about their parochial curiosity. No matter their unpatriotic strikes, we firmly stand for the peace and stability of Nigeria.
“We will proceed to leverage the Authority of the Nationwide Meeting to ensure her peaceable co-existence. Our choice, as an establishment, is taken purely within the nationwide curiosity. If any curiosity is unhappy with it, they’ll as properly search redress within the legislation court docket,” Bamidele mirrored.
He expressed grave issues a couple of barrage of assaults that the opposition events are viciously launching in opposition to the Nationwide Meeting, noting that the explanations for such assaults are purely based mostly on emotion and never causes; sentiment and never substance.