By Emmanuel Adesuji, Abuja.
The Senate Tuesday failed to agree on President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for the extension of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, as the lawmakers postponed further deliberation till Wednesday.
President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, who spoke after the senate emerged from a closed door meeting which lasted for over one hour, said the senators have met and discussed on extension of emergency rule and Senators will continue the discuss by tomorrow.
President Jonathan in a letter sent to the National Assembly, read by President of the Senate, sought the approval of the Senate for the extension of the period of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
The letter reads: “By virtue of the provision of section 305(6)(c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the proclamation aforementioned will elapse after a period is extended by National Assembly.
“It is important to state that despite concerted efforts by this administration to stem the tide of terrorism and insurgency in the affected states, the security challenges that necessitated the proclamation are yet to abate.
“Consequently, it has become imperative to request the approval of the senate for extension of the period for state emergency for a further period of six months.
The Lawmakers while speaking with newsmen after explained that there is no need for the extension of emergency rule in the North east for past one-half years arguing that matter has taking the region from bad to worse.
Senator Ali Ndume (Borno) argued that the Boko-Haram insurgents continued to gain more territory under emergency rule insisting that his people that is representing in the Senate are totally against extension of emergency rule.
Lamenting, despite the fact that the senate increased the Defence budget as a measure to strengthen military operations in the affected area, that nothing has come out of it.
He said the senate approved $1 billion loan to buy arms in order to fight insurgency with no commensurate result.
“We have increased budget, approved $1 billion loan, there is no result, the constitution empowers President to deploy soldiers without declaring state of emergency,” Ndume said.
Senator Ahmad Lawan (Yobe) argued there are many options for the President to tackle the insurgency rather than declaring emergency rule, adding the extension of emergency is only a waste of time.
