EMERGENCY RULE FACES TOUGH TIME IN SENATE THE request by President Goodluck Jonathan for an extension of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states appears to be facing a tough time to sail through in the Senate, as senators, on Tuesday, suspended debate on the matter. The senators had gone into an executive session after Senate President, David Mark, read the letter seeking the extension from President Goodluck Jonathan. But the deliberations at the executive session was inconclusive, as senators resolved to continue the deliberations today. Sources in the Senate said senators expressed divergent views behind the closed doors, with opinions said to be sharply divided on the way out. While a number of senators rejected the extension bid, others called for support for the plan, as, according to them, the security situation in the North-East had not improved since the declaration. A senator, who is in support of the idea, said withdrawing the military from the area at this time would affect the morale of the troops, adding that the way out could just be to extend the emergency rule. The request by President Jonathan was for the extension of the proclamation of emergency rule by another six months. Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, also moved a motion, citing Order 40 (2) of the Senate standing rule to back the declaration. Mark, who opened the Senate session after the closed session, said: “the Senate, in a closed session, met and discussed the letter from Mr President on the extension of a state of emergency. “We had a very extensive debate on it. And we will continue with the debate tomorrow (Wednesday).” The letter by the president read in part: “May I respectfully draw your attention to the state of emergency proclamation 2013 in respect of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, which was approved by the National Assembly and extended for a further period of six months, as conveyed by the Clerk of the National Assembly, dated May 21, 2014. “By virtue of provisions of Sections 305, (6) C of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, the proclamation aforementioned will elapse after a period of six months from the date of approval of the National Assembly, except the period is extended by the National Assembly. “It is important to state that despite concerted efforts by this administration to stem the tide of terrorism and insurgency in the affected states, the security challenges that necessitated the proclamation are yet to abate. “Consequently, it has become imperative to request the approval of the Senate for extension of the period for the state of emergency for a further period of six months. “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 by a further period of six months from the date of expiration of the current period. “I look forward, distinguished Senate President, to the usual kind expeditious consideration of the above request by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Bello Tukur, who briefed newsmen after the sitting, said the deliberations in the chamber were inconclusive. According to him, the lawmakers would continue the discussions today. “The Senate met behind closed doors to consider the letter from Mr President but we did not conclude deliberations on it. “I want you to reserve whatever questions you have on the issue till tomorrow (today) when we would have concluded discussions on it,” he said. But two senators from emergency affected areas, Senators Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) and Ali Ndume (Borno South), in separate interviews with newsmen, said the senators were opposed to the extension. “Although, we will continue deliberations on the issue tomorrow (today ), but I can assure you that we will not approve the emergency rule extension, because the president can deploy the military to any part of the country without declaring state of emergency. “We have a very strong military in Nigeria and nobody can doubt their capacity to handle this insurgency except if the government is telling us that so many things are fundamentally wrong,” Lawan said. Ndume also said his colleagues would reject the extension of State of emergency. “The state of emergency, since it was declared in the three states, had taken us from bad to worse. Our fears now is that if we extend it again, we are inviting more problems to ourselves, because the insurgents would capture more territories during the period. “As the representatives of my people, my entire constituents are totally opposed to the extension of the emergency rule because it restricts movements of the civilian populace while the insurgents move freely and have a field day,” Ndume said. Source: Tribune
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 05:59:55 +0000
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