‘Emergency Measures Aren’t a Stand‑in for Democracy’ – Senate Leader’s Warning to Rivers

Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate majority leader, informed officials run Rivers State under emergency rule on Thursday that the intervention was a constitutional response to restore order in the face of a crisis, not a substitute for democracy.
During the defense of Rivers’ ₦1.4 trillion 2025 budget in the National Assembly in Abuja, Bamidele, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee in charge of the state’s emergency administration, made the claim.
Bamidele stressed in his remarks to the committee and Rivers authorities that the purpose of the emergency rule, which was established by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), was to stabilize unstable areas.
“In any political environment, emergency rule is not a substitute for democratic government,” he stated.

“Instead, it is an extraordinary measure intended to bring stability in place of instability, peace in place of conflict, and order in times of disorder.”

According to the Senate leader, the committee will keep a careful eye on how the budget is being implemented to make sure that funds are being used for the benefit of Rivers State residents.

“Our responsibility is not just to assess the numbers, but also to make sure that the budget is faithfully carried out,” Bamidele stated.

“Citizen trust in governance is restored when allocations on paper translate into real solutions on the ground.”

He added that ongoing monitoring would concentrate on vital areas including security, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

Review of Missing Financial Records Delays — Rivers Administrator
The only administrator of Rivers, Ibok-Ete Ibas, said the lawmakers that the complete evaluation of first-quarter spending was hampered by officials’ refusal to provide important financial data.

Ibas said, “Some state officials withheld important information that was necessary to ensure a more complete capture of expenditures undertaken in the first quarter.”

He said the 2025 budget was in line with the Rivers State Development Plan (2017–2027), even though it might not be perfect given the current situation.

Read Also: Lamido Gets Threat from NNPP Chieftain: ‘I’ll Expose You If Defamation Continues’

“The budget is crafted as a people-centered fiscal blueprint, responsive to present challenges and future development imperatives,” stated Ibas.
On March 18, after months of political unrest, President Bola Tinubu proclaimed emergency rule in Rivers State. Bamidele led an 18-member ad hoc committee that Senate President Godswill Akpabio established to supervise the state’s governance in response.

The panel’s members include Senators Adamu Aliero (Chair, Land Transport), Sani Musa (Chair, Finance), Adetokunbo Abiru (Chair, Banking and Insurance), Peter Nwebonyi (Deputy Chief Whip), and Tahir Munguno (Chief Whip).