‘Emergency Rule Isn’t a Replacement for Democracy’ – Senate Leader Warns Rivers Officials
Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate majority leader, informed officials on Thursday that the intervention was a constitutional response to restore order in the face of a crisis rather than a substitute for democracy in Rivers State, which was being administered under emergency rule.
During Rivers’ ₦1.4 trillion 2025 budget defense at the National Assembly in Abuja, Bamidele, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee in charge of the state’s emergency administration, made the charge.
In his remarks to the committee and Rivers authorities, Bamidele emphasized that the purpose of the emergency rule, which was established by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as modified), was to stabilize unstable areas.
“Emergency rule is not a substitute for democratic government in any political environment,” he stated.
Instead, it is a remarkable step intended to bring stability back in place of instability, peace in place of war, and order back in times of chaos.
The Senate Leader stated that the committee would keep a careful eye on how the budget was being implemented to make sure that the people of Rivers State benefited from the allocations.
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In addition to analyzing data, Bamidele stated, “we are responsible for making sure the budget is faithfully carried out.
“When allocations on paper translate into real-world solutions, citizens’ faith in government is restored.”
He also said that crucial areas like infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security would be the subject of ongoing oversight.
Rivers Administrator: Missing Financial Records Delay Review
The parliamentarians were informed by Ibok-Ete Ibas, Rivers’ only administrator, that the complete investigation of first-quarter spending was hampered by officials’ refusal to produce important financial information.
According to Ibas, “some state officials withheld crucial information that was necessary to ensure a more complete capture of expenditures undertaken in the first quarter.”
He admitted that although the current situation may have made the 2025 budget imperfect, it was still in line with the Rivers State Development Plan (2017–2027).
The budget, according to Ibas, is designed as a people-centered budgetary strategy that is sensitive to both current issues and upcoming development needs.
After months of political unrest, Rivers State was placed under emergency control by President Bola Tinubu on March 18. Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, responded by appointing an 18-member ad hoc committee under Bamidele’s leadership to supervise the state’s governance.
Senator Adamu Aliero (Chair, Land Transport), Senator Sani Musa (Chair, Finance), Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (Chair, Banking and Insurance), Senator Tahir Munguno (Chief Whip), and Senator Peter Nwebonyi (Deputy Chief Whip) are among the panel members.
