President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the Senate to approve the extension of the one-year-old state of emergency in the troubled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe because of the growing activities of the insurgents in the North East.
Jonathan made the request in a letter addressed to Senate President, David Mark, which was read on the floor by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
The President said in his letter that his action was based on the fact that terrorism had yet to abate in the affected states.
The letter reads in part: “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 will 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.”
Although Ekweremadu was silent on when the letter would be discussed, Senator Ahmed Lawan, who is also the Secretary of the Northern Senators Forum, opposed the extension during a chat with journalists at the end of the plenary.
Lawan said rather than extend the emergency rule, he would support any move by the Senate to increase funding for military operations in the affected states.
He said: “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.”
Lawan also said the military should be motivated so that the soldiers could produce results.
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.”
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives will on Wednesday debate Jonathan’s request for extension of the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has said.
Tambuwal stated this at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja when he read the President’s letter of request.
Jonathan, relying on the provisions of Section 305(6) (c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), said in spite of the pending emergency rule, “the security situation in the three states remained daunting”.
“Honourable members, 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 sect on civilian and military targets with alarming casualty rates,” the letter read.
Jonathan urged the lawmakers to consider and approve by resolution, the extension of the proclamation of the state of emergency in the affected states by a further term of six months from the date of expiration of the current term.
It would be recalled that Jonathan had proclaimed a state of emergency in the three states on May 14, 2013, following onslaughts by members of the Boko Haram sect.
The emergency rule was extended for another six months, beginning from November 12, 2013 after same was approved by the National Assembly.
Our earlier story: President Goodluck Jonathan has sought for the extension of the state of emergency in three North East states of Borno , Adamawa and Yobe.
In a letter sent to the Senate by President Jonathan, he said despite the state of emergency declared in those three states, the security situation in those states is yet to be stabilized as the attacks by Boko Haram has not abated. The most recent of such attacks that has drawn worldwide condemnation was the abduction of 234 schoolgirls of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State by members of Boko Haram.
If the Senate gives its approval, this will be the second extension of the state of emergency in the three North East states.