The House of Representatives has vehemently denied allegations that its members received a $5,000 inducement to ratify President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request for a State of Emergency declaration in Rivers State.
Deputy spokesman of the House, Hon. Philip Agbese (Benue, APC), in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Saturday, described the allegation as false, malicious and emanating from “the pit of hell.”
Hon. Agbese said Thursday’s resolution of the House on the State of Emergency declaration in Rivers was done out of patriotism and in the interest of restoring lasting peace to River State.
“At no point did members of the House engage in any financial inducement about the state of emergency declaration. The decision was taken after extensive deliberations on the security and political situation in Rivers State, in line with our constitutional responsibilities to safeguard national stability,” he said.
“Any suggestion that lawmakers were bribed is pure fiction, designed to serve the interests of those who seek to distort facts and create unnecessary tension in the country. The House of Representatives remains an independent institution guided by democratic principles, the rule of law, and the collective will of the Nigerian people.
“Our duty is to make decisions that align with the national interest, not to succumb to baseless distractions aimed at eroding public trust. The allegations of bribery are a desperate attempt to discredit the House and must be dismissed as the political comedy that it is”.
Agbese drew parallels with King Solomon’s wisdom, citing the biblical story of the two women disputing a child’s parentage (1 Kings 3:16-28).
“What the President did was like what King Solomon did when the two women who were fighting over the propriety of a child came to him. These people in Rivers are all interested in the progress and development of Rivers State,” he added.
“They love the state, and they are working hard for it. But one way or the other, disagreement arose between the parties which escalated, and Mr. President, in his wisdom, decided to impose a state of emergency, for some time to allow the two parties to come together, to further deepen our democracy.”
He said as members of Parliament interested in the peace and well-being of the people of Rivers State, they approved the State of Emergency declaration in Rivers out of patriotism and not for any pecuniary consideration as being alleged.
Agbese noted that the Parliament in its wisdom made some key adjustments to Mr President’s emergency proclamation before ratifying it.
“One is that the Parliament remains the law-making body as far as the country is concerned. We resolved that the National Assembly would take over the legislative duties of the Rivers Assembly within the period that the state of emergency is enforced,” he stated.
“Secondly, we resolved as a Parliament that it must not necessarily be for six months for the parties to come together and resolve. Even if it is within two weeks, that these parties can resolve their differences and show that they are on the same page, Mr. President, in his wisdom, should also reduce 180 days.”
Hon. Agbese said he believes that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a true democrat, will not work against democratic institutions in the country.
“We know Mr. President very well. He is a Democrat. He has fought for the institution of our democracy as far as Nigeria is concerned. And he is one man who would always want to protect this democracy.
“We have been relating with him as the President of the country for the past almost two years now. We have been relating with him as our President. We have seen his concerns.
“The 10th House of Representatives has seen the genuine concerns and we believe and trust that if these issues are resolved in less than six months, Mr. President is going to put an end to the state of emergency in that state.”
Hon. Agbese said the House in its wisdom, equally resolved that a tri-partite committee of comprising eminent Nigerians, members of the Parliament and members of the Executive Council at the other end be constituted to ensure that the warring groups in Rivers State are brought to a roundtable and an amicable resolution is reached.
Agbese, while disabusing the minds of Nigerians over the allegations of inducements of members, blamed “fifth columnists” and oppositions, whom he said, are out to tarnish the image of the parliament.
The Benue lawmaker urged Nigerians to continue to extend the kind of support they have always extended to them, assuring that they will always work in the people’s interest as ‘Peoples’ House’.
He expressed optimism that at the end of the State of Emergency, the Rivers State government and the Rivers Assembly will bounce back stronger for the overall good and progress of the state.
On the controversy over quorum, Hon. Agbese said the House satisfied the requirement of quorum with 243 members in attendance during the exercise.