A former Federal Commissioner and prominent Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, believes the Boko Haram insurgency is waxing stronger despite the partial declaration of emergency rule in three north eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.
He has therefore called on President Goodluck Jonathan to take extra-ordinary measures that would ensure protection of lives and property of the people living in those states.
Speaking through Cairo Ojougho in Abuja, Clark insisted Governors Kashim Shettima, Murtala Nyako and Geidam of Borno and Adamawa and Yobe respectively have failed their people and should therefore; have no business being in office.
Consequently, the Ijaw leader asked President Jonathan to remove them from office and appoint military administrators (MILAD) to take charge and restore peace and tranquillity.
Clark also called on members of the National Assembly to see this as a patriotic call and join hands with the President to get the governors out of office.
The elder statesman, who is a delegate to the ongoing national conference, also advised President Jonathan not to mind waht people would say but to go ahead and secure the lives and property of the people of the concerned states.
His speech read by Ojougho reads i part, “The time to act is now Mr. President: Declare an extension of the state of emergency in the frontline states on full scale in exercise of your constitute al powers as it was proclaimed in the case of Plateau and Ekiti states.
“There is nothing like partial declaration of a state of emergency in the 1999 Constitution; what section 305(c) of the 1999 Constitution contemplates is the recourse to “…extraordinary measures to restore peace and security” where the is “breakdown of public order and public safety”.
“This in effect means that all democratic institutions should be suspended to permit the military exercise full control until peace and order returns. Securing and safeguarding the lives of the citizens of Nigeria is a more sacred duty than considerations of political expediency at this point of our national life.
“I wish to further appeal to the leadership and members of the National Assembly to give their support and pass a resolution approving the proclamation of extension of state of emergency in the frontline states by the president in the interest of peace, security, national stability, cohesion and unity.
“Nigerians can no longer tolerate this impunity and recalcitrance. This nonsense must stop now.”
