The Senate, on Wednesday, invited security chiefs to appear before it
today, to give details of the security situation in the three North-East
states, where state of emergency is currently operating.
President Goodluck Jonathan had, on Tuesday, requested the National
Assembly to extend the state of emergency in the states of Borno, Adamawa and
Yobe, in view of the fact that the security challenges in the states had not
abated.
While the senators were to debate the matter on Wednesday, Senate
Leader, Victor Ndoma–Egba, moved a motion asking his colleagues to stand down
the matter.
He said the Senate needed to hear from the service chiefs before a
conclusion was reached on whether the emergency rule would be extended or not.
Ndoma-Egba said beside the fact that aspects of the emergency
proclamation had not been gazetted, there was also the need to hear from the
service chiefs.
Senator James Manager, who seconded the motion, also asked that the
National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence and his Police Affairs
counterpart should be invited for the closed door briefing.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session,
was also in agreement with the Senate Leader, adding that the task at hand was
a serious matter.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, deferred approval
of President Goodluck Jonathan’s fresh request to the National Assembly, where
he sought for an extension of partial emergency rule declared in three
North-Eastern states.
Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, had, on Tuesday, read the
president’s correspondence during plenary session.
The House Leader, Honourable Mulikat Akande-Adeola, during the Wednesday
plenary, had moved a motion, entitled: “extension of the period for the
proclamation of a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states,” where
she called on the lawmakers to support the move to extend emergency rule in the
states.
Honourable Tambuwal, after listening to contribution both for and
against the motion, hinted that the House would vote on the request today,
after the service chiefs must have briefed the lawmakers on the situation with
the abducted Chibok girls.
Before the speaker’s announcement, some members had supported the
request, while a few other spoke against it.
The Minority Leader, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila; Emmanuel Jime;
lawmakers from Yobe states – Goni Bukar Haruna, Machinama Baba Bukar,
Ismail Ahmed Gadaka, Hassan El-Badawy and Andrew Uchendu, were among the
lawmakers that spoke against the approval.
Honourable Gbajabiamila said before giving approval for the extension,
the House should study the rate of killing and destruction before the
declaration of emergency rule and after the state of emergency.
Most of the lawmakers who supported the request, however, called for
improved equipment and welfare for the security men drafted to the affected
states.
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