A heated confrontation unfolded in the House of Representatives on Wednesday as Marie Ebikake and Blessing Amadi, two lawmakers representing different constituencies, passionately disagreed over President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The altercation began just moments before the plenary session started, when Ebikake, representing Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency of Bayelsa, and Amadi, representing Port Harcourt Two Federal Constituency of Rivers, found themselves at odds while discussing the ongoing crisis in Rivers.
Tensions quickly escalated, with both lawmakers shouting and pointing fingers at one another in a dramatic exchange.
The conflict comes in the wake of President Tinubu’s declaration on Tuesday, in which he cited the prolonged political crisis and governance paralysis in Rivers State as justification for the emergency rule. As part of the declaration, the President also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the members of the state’s House of Assembly for six months.
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Tinubu said during a nationwide broadcast: “I feel greatly disturbed by the political crisis in Rivers. The state has been at a standstill, and the people have been deprived of good governance.
“Fourteen months after Governor Fubara demolished the House of Assembly, it remains unbuilt. Many Nigerians have intervened, just as I did. But their efforts have been to no avail.
“No responsible President will stand by without taking action. To restore good governance and peace in this circumstance, it has become imperative to declare a state of emergency.
“By this declaration, Governor Fubara is hereby suspended.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State.”
