The Federal Government on Monday resolved to
extend the state of emergency declared in
Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States for the third
time.
According to punch_
The emergency rule was first declared in the
affected states on May 14, 2013 by President
Goodluck Jonathan over the continued activities
of members of the Boko Haram sect.
Since that first declaration of six months, the
emergency rule had been extended twice.
The third tranche of six-month emergency rule
expires on Thursday.
The decision to extend it for the third time was
taken at a meeting of the National Defence
Council presided over by Jonathan on Monday.
THE PUNCH had reported exclusively earlier on
Monday that a decision on whether to extend the
emergency rule or not would be taken at the
meeting.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister
of Justice, Mr. Muhammed Adoke (SAN),
disclosed the council’s decision to State House
correspondents.
Adoke said having reviewed the emergency rule,
the council resolved that the government should
request the National Assembly to extend the
emergency rule.
When asked when the request would be sent
bearing in mind that an arm of the National
Assembly is currently on break, the minister said
it would be done immediately.
“The council reviewed the issue of the state of
emergency and the government will be
requesting the National Assembly to extend the
emergency rule. It (the communication) will go in
immediately,” he said.
The Council which is one of the federal executive
bodies established by Section 135 of the
nation’s Constitution has the power to advise the
President on matters relating to the defence of
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Nigeria.
Its members include the President who shall be
the chairman; the Vice President who shall be
the Deputy Chairman;Minister of Defence; Chief
of Defence Staff; Chief of Army Staff; Chief of
Naval Staff; Chief of Air Staff; and such other
members as the President may appoint.
Those who attended the Monday meeting
included the CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh;
COAS, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; CNS, Vice
Admiral Usman Jibrin; CAS, Air Marshal Adesola
Amosu; Inspector-General of Police, Mr.
Suleiman Abba; and the National Security
Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
Others were Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Senator Pius Anyim;
Minister of
Defence, Gen. Aliyu Guasu (retd.); and the
Minister of Interior, Mr. Aba Moro.
While declaring emergency rule in the three
states in 2013 in a nationwide broadcast,
Jonathan had invoked Section 305 (1) of the
1999 Constitution as amended.
He had announced that regardless of the state
of emergency imposed, the political structures in
the affected states would remain intact.
Following continued violence in the state in spite
of the emergency rule, there were calls for the
sacking of the state governors to pave way for
the appointment of military administrators.
The Presidency had however said it was
unconstitutional for the President to sack state
governors.
- Punch.
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