The Senate on Tuesday suspended the
consideration Of President Goodluck
Jonathan’s letter requesting the extension
of a state of emergency in Adamawa,
Borno and Yobe.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports that shortly after the introduction
of the motion by the Senate Leader, Sen.
Victor Ndoma-Egbe, the mood among a
section of the senate changed.
Some of the senators were obviously
against another extension of the
emergency in the region.
NAN further reports that a swift
intervention of the Senate President,
David Mark, to ensure consideration of
the letter was loudly rebuffed by voice
vote.
At that point, the Senate Leader invoked
Rule 40 and moved a motion for a closed
session, thereby compelling visitors to the
chamber to leave.
Addressing newsmen after the closed
session, Sen. Bello Tukur, Deputy
Chairman, Senate Committee on
Information, said nothing concrete was
achieved from the Close session.
“The Senate has adjourned the sitting till
tomorrow to consider the letter for the
extension of state of emergency in
Adamawa, Borno and Yobe from Mr
President, Goodluck Jonathan,’’ he said.
The state of emergency earlier declared in
the region had elapsed on Nov.16.
On his part, Sen. Ali Ndume (PDP-Borno)
while speaking to newsmen after the
session, said another extension of a state
of emergency should not have been
contemplated by the President.
“The situation in the Northeast region of
the country had remained the same even
after two of such extensions; so what
gives us the conviction that a state of
emergency is the solution to the problem,’’
Ndume said.
(NAN)
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