FG to extend emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe

From Lawrence Olaoye & Umar Dankano, Yola

Following the expiration of the state of emergency in the three troubled north-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, the Federal Government has perfected plans to send a fresh request for its extension to the National Assembly.

This was revealed yesterday by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, during a brief interaction with State House correspondents, after a meeting of the National Defence Council, at the Aso Villa.

This is the third time that the president would seek the extension of state of emergency in the three states after the initial declaration.

At the end of the meeting, Adoke said it was dedicated to the review of the state of emergency in the affected states.

“After a review of the state of Emergency in the affected states, government decided that it would ask the National Assembly for extension of state of emergency in the affected states” he said.

The Minister added that the request would be sent to the National Assembly ‘immediately’ even though the House of Representatives is on recess.

Those in attendance at the NDC meeting were the Chief of Defence Staff, chiefs of Army, Airforce and Navy as well as the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser.

Meanwhile, the news of the federal government’s planned extension of the emergency rule for another six months for the fourth time in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in the north-east has been received with mixed reactions.

Following the expiration of the state of emergency in the three troubled north-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, the federal government has perfected plans to send a fresh request for its extension to the National Assembly.

This was revealed yesterday by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, during a brief interaction with State house correspondents, after a meeting of the National Defence Council, at the Aso Villa.

This is the third time that the president would seek the extension of state of emergency in the three states after the initial declaration.

At the end of the meeting, Adoke said it was dedicated to the review of the state of emergency in the affected states.

“After a review of the state of emergency in the affected states, government decided that it would ask the National Assembly for extension of state of emergency in the affected states” he said.

The minister added that the request would be sent to the National Assembly ‘immediately’ even though the House of Representatives is on recess.

However, a front-line politician in Adamawa state, Dr. Umar Ardo described the extension as “Nigerians in the affected states are thrown to state of quagmire from state of emergency”.

Dr. Ardo opined that, the president Jonathan led administration has failed Nigerians woe fully for its inability to address the menace to a hold.

He suggested that, the only and correct solution to the problem is “constitutional regime change calling on Nigerians to vote Goodluck out, come 2015 general elections “.

For Abdulrazak Gozaki, the extension of the emergency rule is of no effect as no positive result has been recovered so far.

Gozaki also advised the federal and state governments to support and mobilize the local vigilante in tackling the insurgency.

Former Chief Press Secretary to former Governor Murtala Nyako, Comrade Ahmad Sajoh said the emergency rule has no impact in whatever perceptive and for it to continue is an exercise in futility.

Sajoh expressed dismay in the modalities adopted by government in tackling the Boko Haram terrorism arguing that stakeholders in those states were not consulted for proper evaluation of its impact.

However, the Director of Public Affairs to the Adamawa state Government, Mr. P.P Elisha has reacted differently by saying that, the emergency rule has brought about relief to the affected states.

Elisha explained that without the rule, the situation should have been different by now, because the presence of the military has assisted not in small measure.