…NASS has until Thursday to receive President Tinubu’s letter – Rep. Isiaka
By Gloria Ikibah
Despite earlier claims by the House of Representatives’ spokesperson, Rep. Akin Rotimi, that President Bola Tinubu had sent a communication regarding the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, lawmakers on Wednesday confirmed that no such message was received.
Naijablitznews.com recalled that on Tuesday, Rep Rotimi in a statement said that the House would read the President’s communication during Wednesday’s plenary. However, contrary to this, no letter from Tinubu was presented before the House adjourned its sitting to Thursday.
Addressing journalists after plenary, Rep. Adegboyega Isiaka clarified that the National Assembly still has until Thursday to receive the President’s communication. However, as of Wednesday’s session, no official correspondence had been received.
He said: “As we all see, it’s becoming very worrisome and becoming a threat to democracy itself. So I think that the step the President has taken is just to ensure that we put a halt to what is happening in Rivers.And I think in my view, of course there are opinions that maybe it’s against the Constitution and all of that.
“I’m not a lawyer, I’ve not looked at that very deeply. But whatever it is, that can be tested.But a leader has to take a step, and I think that is what has happened. In terms of it coming to the House, we also expected that that would happen today, but it has not happened. But I think the law also allows that that can be done within 48 hours.So the 48 hours is still within the time frame. So let’s see what happens tomorrow, and then we can take it down from there.
Responding to questions if some members avoided plenary so that the House will not form a quorum, he said, “I don’t think there was anything about people avoiding because there will not be quorum.
Speaking further he explained that: ” The law says that it must come, and I know that the President is a democrat and will do what is necessary. Well, the letter from the President has not come, so there must be a reason for that.I’ve not asked the spokesman what was responsible for that. But the most important thing is that there is no communication today.