Punchng:
Jonathan extends emergency rule in Borno, others
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.