FG To Seek Extension Of Emergency Rule In North East

Mohammed Adoke

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said it will seek to extend the state of emergency rule in the war-torn states from the National Assembly following Monday's expiration of the previous emergency rule imposed on Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States.

Mohammed Adoke, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, made this known at the Presidential Villa, shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan’s meeting with the service chiefs. Strategies on how to completely rout out Boko Haram insurgents topped the agenda of the meeting.

Mohammed Adoke said that after the review of the state of emergency in the affected states, “government decided that it will ask the National Assembly for an extension” stating that the request would be sent immediately to the National Assembly.

The federal government had imposed emergency rule on the three states in May last year, following persistent killings and maiming in the areas by the violent terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The state of emergency has since been extended twice with no end in sight to the reign of terror in the North-east.

Bala Jame Ngilari  who reacted to the decision for the extension of the emergency rule said it was a welcome development as long as the constitution is strictly adhered to.

The spokesman of the state governor, Mr. P.P Elisha, in a statement yesterday, said everything regarding the enforcement of the state of emergency on a state is enshrined in Section 108(3) of the Nigerian constitution, while Section 305 empowers the president to impose emergency rule in any part of the country at war.

Elisha noted that the security situation now was worse than when emergency rule was initially imposed on the state, adding that as it stands, three local governments in Adamawa State are still under the control of the insurgents.

He said the extension of the emergency rule was a welcome idea if it could solve the problems of insecurity bedevilling the state.

Elisha said, "We are fed up with the insurgents’ attacks, it makes us refugees in our own land,"

Also, a legal practitioner in Yola, Sunday Joshua Wugira, said the extension of emergency rule by the federal government would complement the efforts of the military in the fight against Boko Haram.

Wugira said without the full enforcement of emergency rule, the military cannot achieve its targeted aim of flushing out the insurgents, adding that the partial enforcement of emergency rule was not effective.

On its part, the All Progressives Congress (APC) declined to comment on the federal government's decision to extend emergency rule in the North-east.

Lai Mohammed, APC's National Publicity Secretary said, "We feel it is a matter before the National Assembly. But the issue will form part of our deliberations during our National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja. Our position will be made known thereafter."

Also, efforts to get the Borno and Yobe State Governments to react to the extension of emergency rule proved abortive, as phone calls and texts to state government officials in both states were unanswered.

-  http://aitonline.tv/post-fg_to_seek_extension_of_emergency_rule_in_north_east#sthash.g9h2tciZ.dpuf