Mixed Reactions Trail President Jonathan’s Emergency Rule In Borno,

There has been reactions in the senate over
President Goodluck Jonathan's request for
extension of a state of emergency in Adamawa,
Borno and Yobe .
The Senate on Tuesday suspended the consideration of
President Goodluck Jonathan's letter requesting the
extension of a state of emergency.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that shortly
after the introduction of the motion by the Senate
Leader, 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-door session, thereby
compelling visitors to leave the chamber.
Addressing newsmen after the closed session, Bello
Tukur, Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on
Information, said nothing concrete was achieved from
the closed-door 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, 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,'' Mr.
Ndume said.
It was reported yesterday that the Federal Government
extended the state of emergency declared in the three
north-eastern states Adamawa, Yobe and Borno, worst
hit by Boko Haram violence.
Meanwhile Chief Edwin Clark and other elders under
the aegis of Congress for Equality and Change (CEC)
have called the President Jonathan to sack some of the
governors of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States.


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