President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has debunked stories on alleged sharing of dollars to fellow Senators to secure approval of the State of Emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
Akpabio in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Hon Eseme Eyiboh on Saturday, said a story in circulation credited to a press release he purportedly issued and alluding that the sharing was done during the Iftar he hosted.
Eyiboh denied issuing any press release in relation to the Iftar (breaking of fast) hosted by Senator Akpabio.
“It is true, a newspaper correspondent called me on the phone to confirm or disclaim to the rumour of sharing Dollars during the breaking of the fast.
“It is true that I confirmed the Iftar meeting and further asserted that, the Distinguished Senate President has always hosted his colleagues of both religious faith in every season of spiritual rebirth.
“There has never existed any reason to share any money in such a solemn meeting and no money in any currency was shared. I have vehemently denied this spurious rumour of sharing any money,” he stated.
Similarly, the House of Representatives has dismissed the allegations that each member was induced with $5,000 to okay President Bola Tinubu’s declaration state of emergency in Rivers State.
The House Deputy Spokesperson, Hon. Philip Agbese (Benue, APC), who refuted the allegation in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, described it as false, malicious and emanating from “the pit of hell.”
Agbese said that the House’s resolution on the state of emergency declaration in Rivers State was done out of patriotism and in the interest of restoring lasting peace to the oil – rich South-South state.
He said contrary to claims from some quarters, the House satisfied the requirement of quorum with 243 members in attendance during the exercise.
He assured that the House remained an independent institution guided by democratic principles, the rule of law, and the collective will of the Nigerian.
and its duty is to make decisions that align with the national interest, not to succumb to baseless distractions aimed at eroding public trust.
The deputy spokesperson said the allegations of bribery were a desperate attempt to discredit the House and must be dismissed as the political comedy that it is.
“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 to the Parliament. What we did on Thursday was to align ourselves with what I call the wisdom of King Solomon.
“All insinuations that any individual was given money to give to members is nothing but lies from the pit of hell. The opposition should see the good things that we are doing day and night for the country.
“At no point did members of the House engage in any financial inducement in relation to the state of emergency declaration. The decision was taken after extensive deliberations on the security and political situation in Rivers State, in line with our constitutional responsibilities to safeguard national stability.
“Any suggestion that lawmakers were bribed is pure fiction, designed to serve the interests of those who seek to distort facts and create unnecessary tension in the country.
“What the President did was like what King Solomon did when the two women who were fighting over the propriety of a child came to him. These people in Rivers, are all interested in the progress and development of Rivers State. They love the state, and they are working hard for it.
“But one way or the other, disagreements arose among the parties which escalated, and Mr. President, in his wisdom, decided to impose a state of emergency, for a period of time so as to allow the two parties to come together in order to further deepen our democracy.
“We have seen some of the developments in River State. The government is not doing badly. But what we are saying is that, we don’t want the breakdown of institutions as far as River State is concerned.
“We deployed our wisdom as a Parliament, not to pander to sentiments or views expressed by groups outside. Yes, we are a people’s Parliament. We listen to the voices of Nigerians.
“Of course, there are people who say the state of emergency by Mr. President is wrong. There are those who also believe that it was done in the right manner to ensure that there is peace in that state.
“As a Parliament, our interest is to form a bridge, to ensure that our democracy continues to work. As a Parliament, our interest is to protect our democracy and democratic institutions. We resolved as a Parliament to make certain amendments to the proclamations made by Mr. President,” he said.
However, Hon. Agbese said the legislature made some key adjustments to the President’s emergency proclamation before giving the approval.
“One is that the Parliament remains the law-making body as far as the country is concerned. We resolved that the National Assembly would take over the legislative duties of the Rivers Assembly within the period of time that the state of emergency is enforced.
“Secondly, we resolved as a Parliament that it must not necessarily be for six months for the parties to come together and resolve. Even if it is within two weeks, that these parties are able to resolve their differences and show that they are on the same page, Mr. President, in his wisdom, should also reduce the period from 180 days,” he said.
Agbese also said the House in its wisdom, also resolved that a tri-partite committee comprising eminent Nigerians, members of the parliament and members of the Executive Council on the other hand be constituted to reconcile the warring groups in Rivers State.
