House Reps Denies $5000 Bribery Allegation to Endorse Rivers Emergency Rule

The House mod Representatives has dismissed as untrue and a figment of their accusers imagination, the insinuation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu induced each member with $5000 to approve the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State.

Deputy Spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese described the allegations as “unfair” and attempts at spreading misinformation” intended to smear the name of the House.

Agbese, who represents the Ado/Obadigbo/Opkokwu Federal Constituency of Benue State, was unequivocal that the action to pass the emergency rule was in the interest of national stability and security.

He urged critics to focus on the good that would emanate from the decision by the House instead of raising an eyebrow at the process.

Notwithstanding this, the denial has done little to douse the controversy surrounding the declaration of emergency with many questioning the validity of the process.

The use of voice votes in both the Senate and the House of Representatives has been controversial as it appears to violate the method of determining constitutional two-thirds majority vote.

The debate was further ignited by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who accused lawmakers of receiving $200,000 in bribes to pass the state of emergency rule. Though the allegations remain unverified, they added fire to the contentious debate over corruption and the sanctity of the legislative process.

As the storm rages on, the House of Representatives maintains that its move was in the country’s best interest.

But as the majority of Nigerians are outraged and disenchanted with the action of the government, only time can tell if the denials by the House would be enough to redtore the confidence of the people.

The Rivers State events have stirred a wider discourse on the government’s part in providing national stability and security.

While, to some, the declaration of emergency has been justified as a way of preventing institutional failure, others say it is an executive abuse and a threat to democracy.

As events continue to unfold, one thing is clear: the controversy surrounding the Rivers State emergency declaration has exposed deep-seated issues about corruption, accountability, and the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.