Emergency rule not a substitute for democracy, senate tells Rivers officials

Opeyemi Bamidele, senate majority leader, has told officials overseeing governance in Rivers under emergency rule that the measure is not a replacement for democratic government.

Bamidele, who is also the chairman of the ad hoc committee on the oversight of emergency rule in Rivers, spoke in Abuja on Thursday during the defence of the state’s N1.4 trillion 2025 budget.

The senate leader said emergency rule is a constitutional provision aimed at restoring order and stability in times of crisis.

“Emergency rule is not a replacement for democratic government in any political climate,” he said.

“Rather, it is an extraordinary measure designed to restore order in times of disorder, peace in place of conflict, and stability instead of instability.”

He said the intervention was carried out in accordance with section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and other legal frameworks guiding executive and legislative actions.

Bamidele added that the committee had been mandated to ensure that funds allocated in the budget were utilised for the benefit of Rivers residents.

“As representatives of the people, we are not only tasked with evaluating figures, but also with ensuring the faithful execution of the budget,” he said.

He said the senate would conduct continuous oversight of the budget, tracking project implementation and assessing impact on sectors such as roads, education, health, and security.

“Our objective is to ensure that approved funds translate into meaningful development,” he said.

“When allocations on paper become tangible solutions on the ground, citizens’ trust in governance is restored.”

Ibok-Ete Ibas, sole administrator of Rivers, told the committee that some state officials withheld critical financial records needed to account for first-quarter spending.

He said the 2025 budget proposal “may not be a perfect document” due to the circumstances surrounding its preparation.

“Some state officials withheld critical information required to ensure a more complete capture of expenditures undertaken in the first quarter,” he said.

Ibas said the proposed budget aligns with the Rivers state development plan (2017–2027) and was structured to boost infrastructure, drive economic growth, and improve human capital development.

“The budget is crafted as a people-centred fiscal blueprint, responsive to present challenges and future development imperatives,” he said.

President Bola Tinubu declared emergency rule in Rivers on March 18 following a prolonged political crisis in the state.

In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio set up an 18-member ad hoc committee to oversee the administration of the state.

The panel is chaired by Bamidele and includes Tahir Munguno, senate chief whip; Peter Nwebonyi, deputy chief whip; Adamu Aliero, chair of the committee on land transport; Sani Musa, chair of the finance committee; and Adetokunbo Abiru, chair of the banking and insurance committee, among others.