The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) yesterday vowed to vote against
the request by President Goodluck Jonathan to extend emergency rule in three
Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states.
Chairman of the NSF, Senator Umaru Dahiru (Sokoto South) told
reporters after an over three house meeting by the lawmakers, that it was
glaring that extension of the statement of emergency is not the best way to
fight the Boko Haram insurgents in the area.
Dahiru said: “If you notice, we had a meeting this afternoon and
basically the issue of state of emergency is one of things that we discussed.
We discussed it thoroughly, the pros and cons because majority of us were here
to make their own contributions and a lot has been said.
“This time around, if you discover in the past a request was made and it
was approved the way it came. This time around there is a rethink. The majority
position, which we have agreed upon, is that we are not going with the state of
emergency.
“Categorically, that is our position. We are not convinced that it is
only the issue of state of emergency that the security personnel can only be
able to achieve.
“We believe that more needs to be done and there are things that need to
be addressed to conquer this issue of insurgency and what have you. So, if I am
to go by your question, our own position is that we are not going to support
extension of emergency rule.
“Let me develop it further. Our meeting is not stopping here. We are
going to engage the three governors, that is, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
We are going to engage then too.
“We want to know what went wrong, if there is anything for us to do to
adjust. We are going by our own assumptions and suggestions. If you can see the
leadership of these three given states and say more about it.”
On whether the Northern Senators would vote against the extension of
emergency rule in the Senate when the request is being considered, he said: “Of
course, I don’t know if you have read the constitution. The Constitution
requires two-third majority in terms of voting and of course there must be voting.
If we can be outwitted in the voting, fine.
“But as far as we are concerned our position is that we are going to
vote against it. And of course this technically speaking when you read the
Constitution in section 304(6), it prescribes how a state of emergency should
be proclaimed and our own position is that we are saying no and obviously we
are going to stand by it.”
The lawmaker representing Sokoto South said the way out of the logjam
would be made known after the committee set up by the forum submits its
report and its recommendations conveyed to the Federal Government.
He commended the efforts of the military in the fight against the
insurgency and pledged the support of the NSF to ensure their success.
He also expressed support for the decision of foreign powers to assist
the country to rescue the over 200 school girls abducted by the Boko Haram sect
but maintained that such support must be on the terms to be set by the Federal
Government.
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