The House of Representatives has denied allegations that each member was induced with $5,000 to ratify President Bola Tinubu’s request on the State of Emergency declaration in Rivers State.
Deputy spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese (Benue, APC) while responding to the issue in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Saturday, described the allegation as false, malicious and emanating from “the pit of hell.”
According to Agbese, Thursday’s resolution of the House on the State of Emergency declaration in Rivers was done out of patriotism and in the interest of restoring lasting peace to River State.
He said as members of Parliament interested in the peace and well-being of the people of Rivers State, they approved the State of Emergency declaration in Rivers out of patriotism and not for any pecuniary consideration as being alleged.
He said the Parliament in its wisdom made some key adjustments to President’s emergency proclamation before ratifying it.
Agbese said he believes that Tinubu as a true democrat will not work against democratic institutions in the country.
Agbese said the House, in its wisdom, equally 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 ensure that the warring groups in Rivers State are brought to a roundtable and an amicable resolution is reached.
Agbese, while disabusing the minds of Nigerians over the allegations of inducements of members, blamed “fifth columnists” and oppositions, whom he said, are out to tarnish the image of the parliament.
The Benue lawmaker urged Nigerians to continue to extend the kind of support they have always extended to them, assuring that they will always work in the people’s interest as ‘Peoples’ House’.
He expressed optimism that at the end of the State of Emergency, both the Rivers State Government and the Rivers Assembly will bounce back stronger for the overall good and progress of the state.
On the controversy over quorum, Agbese said the House satisfied the requirement of quorum with 243 members in attendance during the exercise.
