The House of Representatives has denied recent trending allegations that its members collected $5,000 bribe each to approve President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Deputy spokesman of the House, Hon. Philip Agbese (Benue, APC), dismissed the claims as “false, malicious, and from the pit of hell” during a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday. He insisted that the decision was made in the national interest and to restore peace in the troubled state.
House Rejects Bribery Allegations
Agbese criticized the bribery accusations, calling them an attempt to discredit the Parliament’s integrity.
“The allegation that members of the House of Representatives were induced with $5,000 to pass a resolution is unfair to the Parliament. Very, very unfair,” Agbese said. “At no point did members of the House engage in any financial inducement in relation to the state of emergency declaration.”
He further explained that the House’s resolution was based on constitutional duties and an assessment of the security situation in Rivers State.
Why the State of Emergency Was Approved
According to Agbese, the House acted in good faith to prevent the breakdown of law and order in Rivers State. He compared President Tinubu’s intervention to the wisdom of King Solomon in resolving disputes.
“These people in Rivers are all interested in the progress and development of Rivers State,” he said. “But disagreements arose among the parties which escalated, and Mr. President, in his wisdom, decided to impose a state of emergency to allow the two parties to come together and further deepen our democracy.”
Agbese assured Nigerians that the House’s approval was based on its commitment to safeguarding national stability and not for any financial gain.
Key Amendments to the Emergency Declaration
Before ratifying the President’s emergency proclamation, the House made significant amendments to ensure legislative oversight and flexibility.
One major amendment allows the National Assembly to take over the legislative duties of the Rivers State Assembly during the emergency period. Another amendment shortens the duration of the emergency if warring parties resolve their differences before the initial six-month period ends.
“Even if these issues are resolved in two weeks, Mr. President, in his wisdom, should also reduce the period from 180 days,” Agbese explained.
Formation of a Conflict Resolution Committee
To facilitate peace, the House proposed the creation of a tri-partite committee comprising eminent Nigerians, members of Parliament, and members of the Executive Council. This committee will mediate between the conflicting parties in Rivers State and work toward a peaceful resolution.
“We are interested in protecting our democracy and ensuring our democratic institutions function effectively,” Agbese said. “Our duty is to make decisions in the national interest, not to succumb to baseless distractions.”
Quorum and Parliamentary Integrity
Addressing concerns about parliamentary quorum during the resolution, Agbese confirmed that 243 members were present, meeting the constitutional requirement.
He urged Nigerians to ignore “fifth columnists” spreading misinformation and reaffirmed the House’s commitment to public service.
Conclusion
The House of Representatives has strongly denied allegations of bribery in approving the Rivers State emergency declaration. Lawmakers maintain that their decision was made in the best interest of preserving peace and democratic order.
With key amendments and the formation of a resolution committee, the House aims to facilitate a swift resolution to the crisis while upholding the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
