Why the House Ratified Tinubu’s State of Emergency in Rivers – Rep Benedict

Why the House Ratified Tinubu’s State of Emergency in Rivers – Rep Benedict

Etanabene Benedict, the representative for Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie constituency, has explained that many social commentators criticizing the National Assembly’s actions regarding the State of Emergency in Rivers lacked access to critical information.

On Thursday, the House of Representatives and the Senate ratified President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency proclamation in Rivers State via voice votes, according to Naija News. The federal legislative body also approved the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the House of Assembly………READ MORE

In an interview with News Central on Thursday, Benedict, a member of the opposition Labour Party, revealed that although he and several other opposition lawmakers initially opposed the proclamation, they later came to support it after gaining a better understanding of the situation.

“Things that happen outside of plenary are different from what happens during plenary,” Benedict said. “What happens before, if properly reported, would have clarified some of the misconceptions being discussed.”

Benedict dismissed claims that the National Assembly was pressured into ratifying the proclamation, stating that substantial changes were made to the President’s declaration during the legislative process.

“The House approved the suspension and declaration in the interest of peace, with the expectation that the Governor would return to his position,” he explained. He added that significant modifications were made to the President’s original proposal to address concerns raised by lawmakers.

Benedict further stated that opposition members had pushed for changes, including ensuring that the oversight of the sole administrator, as outlined in the President’s broadcast, would instead be handled by the National Assembly in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution.

“The ultimate goal is peace. If the President had not made the proclamation and an impeachment had taken place, violence and loss of life would likely have followed,” Benedict warned. “Once we understood the broader implications, we decided to support the measure to restore peace and ensure the continuity of the Governor’s office.”