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Buhari Dissolves, Proclaims 9th Assembly …Lawmakers Recount Legacies, Praise Saraki, Dogara’s Leadership

Published

7 years ago

June 7, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, pronounced the dissolution of the Eighth Session of the National Assembly, and announced the proclamation of the Ninth Session of the Parliament billed to commence on Tuesday, June 11.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani Omolori, confirmed this while addressing journalists in his office, yesterday.
He said, “I want to confirm that I have received proclamation from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The first is on the dissolution of the Eight National Assembly, while the other one is on the convening of the first session of the Ninth National Assembly.
“The proclamation of the dissolution of the Eight National Assembly takes effect from 12 midnight of 8th June.
“By implication, from 8th of June by 12 midnight, the Eight National Assembly stands dissolved.
“Similarly, the Ninth National Assembly will be inaugurated and first sitting will be held on Tuesday, 11th of June by 10:00 a.m. in the National Assembly Complex.”
However, the 8th Senate, presided over by Dr Bukola Saraki, yesterday, adjourned sine die after a valedictory session which marked the last official assignment of the 8th Senate.
There were mixed feelings at the valedictory session, when senators took turns to appraise their performance for the past four years.
The Upper Chamber, which for some time had been scanty in attendance after the 2019 general election, was packed full with lawmakers takening turns to speak on their experiences since 2015 when the Senate was inaugurated.
In his remarks, Sen. Magnus Abe (APC-Rivers), commended his colleagues for working tirelessly in preserving the Senate as an institution.
Abe said “it was the desire to serve Nigeria that brought us here. We preserved this institution for others to come and make their contribution.
“We may not have served perfectly but we represented the highest standard of integrity. May God bless us all,” he said.
Also speaking, Sen. Shehu Sani (PPP-Kaduna) said lawmakers were not elected to only represent their constituents, but also to protect the interest of the country at large.
He pointed out that lawmakers had a duty to define their role in history by defending the institution of the National Assembly.
Sani said that one thing every lawmaker ought to take note of was to serve with honour and leave with more honour and also by standing for the truth irrespective of religious, ethnic affiliation or party leaning.
“As a parliament, it is a calling. We are not just here to represent the people, but to stand for issues that are germane,” he said.
On the performance of the 8th Senate, Sani said, there was no doubt it passed through turbulence, noting that “every national assembly has its challenges.
Similarly, the 8th House of Representatives has ended its tenure after four years in office and has adjourned indefinitely in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
This was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by the Majority Leader of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) at the end of the valedictory session, yesterday in Abuja.
Earlier, the Speaker, Hon Yakubu Dogara had said that the House was inaugurated on June 9, 2015.
He appreciated the members for the confidence reposed in him and for electing him speaker of the House in 2015.
Dogara said that the House passed a total of 382 bills out of which 76 were assented to by the President.
He said that with 382 bills passed by the 8th House of Representatives, it had surpassed records of all previous assemblies. Dogara said that the 8th House of Representatives was the most harassed in the history of the country, yet it sustained the legacies of its past leaders.
“It appears we are losing the fight against violence and as if that is not bad enough, the situation is so dire that known statesmen are becoming petrified and speaking up in ways that may further rend our national fault lines.
“It is like we refused to hear the whispers and now the screams are threatening our ear drums.
“This is a national problem that we can only solve if we pull ourselves together and not apart regardless of political persuasions or creed.
“The challenge is to get the leadership that throws out politics and partisanship out of the window.
“Leadership that reins in all our best human and material resources to confront these menacing challenges.
“Yet, instead of uniting to confront this very danger, all one hears are sermons of divisiveness and permutations for 2023 elections. I wonder if this is not how the bottom looks like,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly management has given outgoing members of the 8th Senate three days to handover their office keys.
The announcement was made by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, yesterday, at the beginning of the valedictory session of the 8th Assembly at the National Assembly, Abuja.
The announcement is the fourth agenda on the Order Paper of the day.
The 8th Senate, which was inaugurated on June 9, 2015, would come to an end on June 6.
Reading the letter by the Committee on Recovery and Preparation of the 8th Assembly Offices’ Furniture and Equipment for Ninth Senate titled: “Handing Over of Office Keys, Furniture Equipment,” Saraki urged the lawmakers to hand them over between yesterday and Saturday.

Featured

RSG Floats MNET Culture Content Promo

Published

24 hours ago

November 6, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.

He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.

He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.

“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.

Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.

The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.

On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.

Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.

With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.

He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.

Kevin Nengia

Featured

APC Presidential Campaign Storms PH, ‘Morrow

Published

1 day ago

November 6, 2026

The Tide

Barring last minute changes, the presidential campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will storm Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, tomorrow.

This is according to a campaign timetable released by the APC Campaign Council last month.

The Tide reports that the APC presidential campaign kicked off in Kaduna on October 24 with President Bola Tinubu in attendance.

The campaign train later moved to Cross River, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Ekiti on November 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima representing the President at the rallies.

President Tinubu is personally scheduled to attend 12 states including Rivers, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos.

The Rivers State rally, scheduled to hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, is expected to witness a large crowd of party supporters drawn from a coalition of political parties in the State.

The party is expected to round off its presidential campaign in Lagos State on January 9, 2027.

The Tide reports that Tinubu has not visited Rivers State as President since he assumed office in May 2023. His last physical visit to the State was before his inauguration on Wednesday, May 3 – Thursday, May 4, 2023, when he was hosted by then Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the Magistrates’ Court Complex.

Tomorrow’s visit will be his first to the State since assuming office.

Featured

2027: Be Politically Neutral, Fubara Tasks Traditional Rulers

Published

1 week ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged traditional rulers in the State to maintain neutrality, ensure fairness and uphold peace in their domains as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Fubara gave the charge on Wednesday while declaring open the 126th, 127th and 128th Combined Quarterly Meeting of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, in Port Harcourt.

The governor said the primary function of traditional rulers is to administer justice and ensure fairness, saying their conduct must not lead to division and unmanageable crises.

“Let me therefore, request, if that is the right word to use, that please, as we are entering into this political season actively, everyone should ensure that your conduct promoted peace in your place. Your actions should not be what would lead to the division and multiple crisis that we cannot manage as a government.

“I think with that, we can all live as one and we can also continue to make this progress that we are trying with all our mind, our body and our soul, to ensure that we deliver to our dear State,” he said.

Fubara urged the royal fathers to abide by the oath and constitution they swore to before ascending their respective stools, in the interest of stability and progress of the State.

He also enjoined them to set aside individual sentiments and place the interest of Rivers State above personal considerations, noting that this principle has guided his own day-to-day governance of the State.

“I want to enjoin everyone to keep aside issues of individual sentiments and ensure that the interest of our state supersedes whatever thing that we have in our mind. This is not just what I’m saying here, it is what I’ve also practiced and displayed in my day-to-day life in the governance of our dear State,” he said.

On the appeal for improved welfare for traditional rulers, the governor clarified that the delay in actualising some of the requests they made in the past was not from the government but from the inability of the Council to put its house in order.

Fubara explained that the issue of stipends paid to the traditional rulers by the local government councils, was a statutory benefit provided for in the constitution and not what a state governor can change by mere verbal pronouncements.

He assured that he remains a man of his word and will fulfill his promises to the traditional rulers before leaving office, next year.

He reaffirmed his respect for the traditional institution as custodians of culture and the closest link to the people, thanking them for their prayers and support.

The governor urged the royal fathers to ensure that the combined quarterly meeting featured fruitful deliberations that will strengthen peace and development in the State.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu Wodo, expressed profound gratitude to the State Government for its efforts in maintaining a cordial relationship with the traditional institution.

Wodo highlighted the importance of traditional rulers in conflict resolution, noting that their closeness to the people places them in a strategic position to mediate in disputes involving chieftaincy matters, family disputes and land ownership in their respective communities.

The royal father drew the attention of the State Government to some challenges affecting the performance of the traditional institution, particularly the lack of official utility vehicles and logistical support needed to discharge its responsibilities effectively.

He also appealed for improved monthly stipends and better welfare provisions to reflect prevailing economic realities.