The Federal Government on Monday resolved to extend the state of
emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states for the third time.
The emergency rule was first declared in the three states on May 14,
2013 by President Goodluck Jonathan as a practical step to combating the
activities of Boko Haram.
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 was taken at a meeting of the
National Defence Council presided over by Jonathan on Monday.
The PUNCH had
reported exclusively on Monday that a decision on whether to extend the
emergency rule or not would be taken at the meeting.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr.
Muhammed Adoke (SAN), disclosed the council’s decision to State House
correspondents in Abuja.
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 was 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 1999 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 as the chairman; the Vice-President as
the Deputy Chairman; the Minister of Defence; the Chief of Defence Staff; the
Chief of Army Staff; the Chief of Naval Staff; the Chief of Air Staff; and such
other members as the President may appoint.
Those who attended the Monday meeting were the
CDS, Alex Badeh; COAS, Kenneth Minimah; the CNS, Usman
Jibrin; the CAS, Adesola Amosu; the Inspector-General of
Police, Suleiman Abba; and the National Security
Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
Others were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim
Pius Anyim; the Minister of Defence, Aliyu Guasu, and the Minister
of Interior, Mr. Aba Moro.
While declaring emergency rule in the three states in 2013,
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 states in spite of the emergency
rule, there were calls for the sack of the state governors to pave the way for
the appointment of military administrators.
The Presidency had however said it was unconstitutional for the
President to sack state governors.
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Politics