The National Assembly was duly consulted before President Bola Tinubu made his declaration on the Rivers State political crisis, the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi, has confirmed.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, Rotimi disclosed that key figures in the National Assembly, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, and House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, held a meeting with President Tinubu and National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu prior to the President’s address to the nation.
“In response to multiple inquiries, I can confirm that the National Assembly was duly consulted by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, before the declaration on the Rivers crisis,” Rotimi stated.
He added that the meeting also had in attendance top security officials, including Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) Adeola Ajayi, and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Mohammed Mohammed.
“During the meeting, the President’s intentions were fully outlined, and all present unanimously expressed their support,” Rotimi noted.
Furthermore, he revealed that President Tinubu had formally communicated his decision to the House of Representatives through a letter in accordance with Section 305 of the Constitution. The letter, which seeks parliamentary approval, is set to be read at plenary on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, after which further legislative deliberations will take place.
The Rivers crisis has continued to generate national attention, with stakeholders closely watching the Federal Government’s intervention in resolving the political tensions in the state.
