The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has defended the National Assembly’s ratification of the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He declared that most of the criticism trailing the action of the National Assembly was politically motivated.
The Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District posited that his colleagues ratified the proclamation despite public outcries against it in national interest, not on the basis of partisanship or pandering to the whims and caprices of the presidency.
The National Assembly had a couple of weeks ago given the state of emergency declared by President Tinubu in Rivers State a clean bill, leading to the suspension of the River State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Speaking while being conferred with the Honorary Doctoral Degree of Law by the management of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, on Saturday, Bamidele said the nod given to the presidential proclamation was in defence of their oaths of office to always work for Nigeria’s interest.
Bamidele added that the National Assembly, as a pivotal arm of government, swore to an oath to collaborate and work with other arms to bring radical socio-political and economic development to the nation, saying their action was in full alignment with this onerous duty.
The All Progressives Congress stalwart assured Nigerians that the Senate under the current leadership of Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, will continually work in collaboration with the executive arm to uplift the nation to an enviable height in all economic spheres.
Bamidele assured that the parliamentarians will not prioritise personal interest over national interests so that Nigeria can assume a pedestal of pride among the comity of nations.
“As a responsible and responsive parliament that sees peace and stability as a catalyst of growth and development, we were inaugurated into office to promote a nation that works for all and that guarantees the peaceful coexistence of all,” he said.
