The Yobe State Government on Wednesday said that it would work with the security agencies to restore peace and security following the state of emergency declared in the state.
The pledge was contained in a statement signed by Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Information.
President Goodluck Jonathan, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, following increased terrorists’ activities, which claimed many lives and with property destroyed.
The statement by Bego said: “Yobe Government agrees with President Goodluck Jonathan on the need to take more effective measures to address the problem of insecurity in the country.
“Yobe Government will continue to work closely with the security agents and will ensure that their conduct reflects the spirit of the emergency declaration by Mr. President and the rules of engagement specified for that purpose.”
It called on the public to continue with their usual support and cooperation with security agents, “which proved critical in bringing about the relative peace enjoyed in the state in the past months.”
It also urged members of the public to go about their normal and legitimate businesses and to report suspicious movements in their areas to security agents.
The state government gave the assurance that it would remain focused and committed to the ongoing task of transforming the state through provision “of the much-needed social services.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that residents of Damaturu, the state capital, are going about their normal businesses.
They also expressed gratitude to God, the government and the security agencies for the relative peace enjoyed in the state.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party said that the beginning of the end of insurgency had begun with President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of state of emergency in the troubled states.
Reacting to the development, Chief Olatunji Shelle, the Lagos State Chairman of PDP, told NAN that the President’s action displayed absolute wisdom and perfect understanding of the situation.
Shelle said: “This is superlative and highly commendable outing by the President.
“All the enemies of Nigeria will be dumbfounded.”
On his part, Chief Winston Odum-Ojobi, the African Regional President of Global Care, Education and Peace Initiative, an NGO, supported the President’s action.
Odum-Ojobi said: “The President’s declaration is in line with Section 305, sub-section A, C, D, F of the 1999 Constitution as amended.”
Odum-Ojobi, however, said that the President should have suspended all political office holders and hold them in Abuja for they, either by commission or omission, contributed to the deteriorating troubles in their states.
Abraham Breakforth, the Executive Director of a political NGO, Global Initiative for African Development, also expressed optimism that Jonathan’s action would bring lasting solution to the troubled states.
Breakforth said: “We are in support of President Jonathan’s declaration of state of emergency in the troubled parts of the North which we believe will bring about lasting solution and full military action in those areas.
“Jonathan has acted well.
“It shows he is an action President.”
For Toyin Raheem, the Secretary of the Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights, Jonathan’s action is a commendable one though the state of emergency was long overdue.
Raheem said: “The President’s action is morally, legally and constitutionally right.
“For this singular act, he has won the heart of the human rights activists and for still allowing political office holders to be in power.”
However, Mohammed Oyefeso, a lawyer and a former electoral Commissioner with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, did not support Jonathan’s action.
According to Oyefeso, state of emergency is not the solution to the problems.
He said: “The President is not right to still retain the governors and political office holders in those states.
“For the President to still retain those governors and still pronounce state of emergency in those states is contradictory, but I think the president is trying to be political.”
In Ebonyi State, some political stakeholders in Abakaliki have expressed diverse views on the emergency rule proclaimed by President Goodluck Jonathan on three Northern states in the country.
Most respondents interviewed by NAN commended the President for the action, while others faulted the retention of the elected political office holders in the affected states.
Dr. Hygenius Aligwe, Head of Department, Mass Communication, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, hailed the move, describing it as long overdue.
“I however want all conditions required in emergency rule to be applied to the fullest. The arrest and prosecution of whoever has unpatriotically threatened the unity of the country should be implemented immediately,” Aligwe said.
Dr. Jonathan Aliede, Coordinator, School of Post Graduate Studies, EBSU, Abakaliki, said that though the declaration of state of emergency anywhere portends negativity and setback, it was an attempt to end anarchy.
Aliede said: “In this case, if it is the right and only prescription to the endemic insecurity virus threatening the country, then let it be.
“Hopefully, having conferred with the security authorities, the President must have weighed all options and came to the finality that it is the only panacea left.”
On his part, Chief Jerry Obasi, state Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Ebonyi State, faulted the emergency rule that still allowed elected officials in the states to retain their functions.
Obasi said: “This is a wrong move, as emergency rule everywhere in the world requires that elected officers should relinquish their offices within the stipulated period.
“The President would only compound the problems as the political office holders who fuel the embers of the insurgency for their selfish interest, would still have a field day.”
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