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A member of the House of Representatives from the All Progressives Congress, Ademorin Kuye, says the National Assembly will support the state of emergency declared in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu in defence of democracy.
Kuye, who is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets, stated this while addressing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that the primary responsibility of every government was the protection of lives and property of citizens.
According to him, the legislature is always the first victim if anything happens to democracy, hence the need for the national assembly to always defend democracy at all costs.
He said that the lawmakers would support the president’s state of emergency proclamation, notwithstanding their respective political party affiliations.
The lawmaker recalled that the Ninth National Assembly intervened in the crisis that rocked the Edo House of Assembly and amicably resolved the matter in defence of democracy.
“Without sentiment, we are going to defend democracy. In a situation where there is a breakdown of law and order, no responsible government will keep quiet and allow the anarchy to continue,” he said.
Kuye, who represents Somolu Federal Constituency of Lagos, also recalled that Tinubu had intervened in the lingering political crisis in the state, adding, however, that the warring parties preferred to take the matter to court.
He said that in spite of the Supreme Court judgment, the crisis had still persisted, leading to the destruction of oil pipelines and other government facilities that cost a lot to put in place.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Tinubu had, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Gov. Ngozi Odu and all members of the House of Assembly for six months.
Relying on section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the president appointed Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas to take charge of the affairs of the state.
Tinubu, in the nationwide broadcast, said that the latest security reports showed disturbing incidents of vandalism of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them.
He said a stern order had been given to security agencies to ensure the safety of the lives of the people of Rivers and the oil pipelines.
NAN reports that emergency rule required a two-thirds majority of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
However, both chambers have yet to vote on the matter.
NAN
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