In the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, Hon. Bashiru Dawodu, the lawmaker representing Oshodi-Isolo 1 Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, has addressed concerns about the nature of the National Assembly’s involvement.
Dawodu in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, dismissed claims that the National Assembly acted as a mere “rubber stamp”, emphasising that the final version of the proclamation was significantly amended before approval.
“Now to the National Assembly, the National Assembly deliberated, considered, and voted and by virtue of that approving the proclamation. But the missing piece is that it’s not the way the proclamation went into the House that it came out. Talking about rubber stamp.
“The House actually had three amendments. The first was that it provided a situation for eminent personalities to intervene. Two, that the National Assembly would take over the oversight functions of the State Assembly. Three, that the six months is not written in stone, that it provides an opportunity, for example, if the situation changes tomorrow, the president is within his power to actually revoke that.”
Addressing concerns about the voting method used to approve the emergency rule, Dawodu explained that voice votes are standard parliamentary procedure. He refuted allegations of irregularities in the vote count, pointing out that no member openly objected to the motion on the day of deliberation.
“The issue of two-thirds may not be really germane if not one single person actually said nay,” he noted. “In democracy, the folks that voted wanted the government to function.”
The declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State has been a contentious issue, with critics arguing that it undermines democracy. However, Dawodu defended the move, stating that it was necessary to restore stability in Rivers state.
“The governor was distracted, almost entirely distracted,” he said. “Rather than looking at this situation with microscopic eyes, we need to look at the global picture. Is the situation better now for the folks in Rivers? I say yes.”
Dawodu maintained that President Tinubu acted within his constitutional rights and in the best interest of the state’s residents.
The political turmoil in Rivers State escalated when pro-Wike lawmakers attempted to impeach Governor Fubara, further deepening tensions. In response, President Tinubu intervened, citing threats to governance and public order.
Chioma Kalu
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