By: Olusegun Lawrence Barely 48 hours to the expiration of the State of Emergency in three north-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, President Goodluck Jonathan has requested the Senate to approve extension for another six months.
The President made the request in a letter to the Senate and read by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary on Tuesday.
According to President Jonathan, the security situation in the three states remains daunting and needed more time to enable security personnel entrench peace and tranquility.
Prompt News recalls that sequel to frequent attacks by the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, President Jonathan on May 15, 2013 declared a state of emergency in the three states.
However, he sought and got Senate’s approval for six months extension which will now lapse on Thursday.
President Jonathan’s letter to the Senate reads in full:
Re: Extension of The Period For The Proclamation of A State of Emergency In Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States
May I respectfully draw your attention to the State of Emergency Proclamation 2013, in respect of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe Staes, which was approved by the National Assembly.
By virtue of the provisions of Section 305(6)(c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of ?Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the Proclamation aforementioned would have elapsed after six months from the date of approval of the National Assembly.
However, after due consideration of the representations made to the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the effect that, while substantial progress had been made to contain the situation and restore normalcy in the affected states, the security situation that necessitated the proclamation of a State of Emergency was yet to abate.
It would be recalled that the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had upon consideration of the realities of the security situation in the affected states that had been placed before it, graciously approved by resolution, the extension of the State of Emergency for a further term of six months from the date of expiration of the subsisting period.
Distinguished Senators, the security situation in the three states remains daunting, albeit to varying degrees, in the face of persistent attacks by members of the Boko Haram sects on civilian and military targets with alarming casualty rates.
In view of the foregoing, I most respectfully request Distinguished Senators to consider and approve by resolution, the extension of the Proclamation of the State of Emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States by a further term of six months from the date of expiration of the current term.
I look foward, Distinguished Senate President, to the usual kind expeditious consideration of this request by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Please accept, as always, the assurances of my highest consideration and esteem”.
Meanwhile, a member of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, who doubles as the secretary of the Northern Senators Forum, has kicked against the extension, saying it would be more beneficial for the government to vote more money to equip the military rather than extending emergency rule.
Addressing newsmen after the plenary, Lawan stated “The state of emergency had been operated for 12 months now and will end on the 19th of this month. I think that should be the end.
“That is not to say that the military operation in the North East should cease. Instead, the Federal Government should deploy more military personnel and modern equipment in the affected states.
“What is crucial, essential and imperative, is not the state of emergency but the enablement of the military especially those in the battlefront to have state of the art technology and weapons”, he said.
“The government does not need to declare another state of emergency before they continue. They are already there. The obsolete arms and ammunition should be withdrawn from them and be replaced with modern ones.
“The National Assembly has always expressed willingness to support further funding for the military operation.
“The Senate President, David Mark, who spoke on our behalf last week, told President Goodluck Jonathan that the senate was prepared to approve supplementary budget to further equip the military and boost the morale of the soldiers.
“Therefore I am completely opposed to the extension of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe but I support further funding for the military operation in the area.”
Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu, did not however say when the letter would be debated.
