The Nigerian Senate has constituted a special committee to oversee governance in Rivers State under the current emergency rule, signaling a heightened legislative interest in stabilizing the state’s political situation. The committee will be chaired by Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central, and will include members from all political parties represented in the Red Chamber.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the formation of the committee on the Senate floor as lawmakers resumed from a brief recess. He emphasized that the diverse makeup of the committee reflects a unified, non-partisan commitment to ensuring peace, order, and constitutional governance in Rivers State.
In his opening address, Akpabio invoked the spiritual significance of the recent Easter and Ramadan observances, describing them as “moral mirrors and national metaphors” that remind Nigerians of the values of sacrifice, unity, discipline, and the ability to rise from adversity. He urged legislators to embody these values in their deliberations and lawmaking.
Akpabio also highlighted the multitude of national challenges—ranging from rising living costs and energy sector instability to insecurity and regional discontent over environmental and resource equity. “Our people look to us, not for rhetoric, but for rescue,” he said. “There is no river we cannot cross if we put our trust in God and faith in the people He has ordained to lead us.”
The Senate President cautioned his colleagues against complacency, stating, “We are under watch. The people are watching. The world is watching. History—silent but unsleeping—is watching.” He assured the nation that the Senate will prioritize bills focused on security reforms, economic resilience, education, technology, and youth empowerment, while intensifying oversight functions to ensure improved performance by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).