Northern Nigerian Senators Oppose Emergency Rule Extension
by GEORGE OJI, WOLE OLADIMEJI, JAMES ABRAHAM AND DANJUMA WILLIAMS
Nigerian Mirror
Nov 19, 2014
Senators from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states yesterday kicked against any extension of the state of emergency in their states as the Senate began deliberation on President Goodluck Jonathan’s request to extend the regime for another six months.
The debate took place in a heated closed-door session and the lawmakers could not reach a consensus on the matter. They adjourned further debate on the issue till today.
Section 305(6)(c) provides that the request for the proclamation of state emergency by the President must be approved by the National Assembly within two days while the parliament is in session or 10 days to reconvene the parliament when the lawmakers are on break.
The section provides that if the National Assembly is not able to approve the emergency rule within the above period, it would automatically stand nullified.
The debate took place even as senators from the affected states mounted stout opposition against the approval of the request by the President.
The President, had in a letter addressed to the Senate President, David Mark and read on the floor of the house yesterday explained that by the virtue of the provision of section 305(6) (c) of the 1999 constitution the current emergency rule in operation in the three northern states will elapse after a period of six months except the period is extended by the National Assembly.
He further explained that despite the concerted efforts by his administration to stem the tide of terrorism and insurgency in the affected states, the security challenges that necessitated the proclamation are yet to abate, stressing that, “consequently, it became imperative to request the approval of the senate for extension of the period for the state of emergency for further period of six month.”
The President said in view of the foregoing, the senate should consider and approve by resolution, the extension of the proclamation of the state of emergency by further period of six months.
The state of emergency was first approved by the National Assembly in November last year and extended on May 21 this year.
However, after Mark had read the President’s letter and citing order 40 of the senate standing orders, Senate Leader, Senator Ndoma- Egba moved that the senate should commence deliberation on the letter.
The Leader’s motion was supported by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume.
Following some initial arguments among the senators, a decision was taken by the lawmakers to retire into executive session to deliberate on the matter.
After about one and half hours deliberation on the matter, the senators rose.
Briefing senate correspondents on the outcome of the close/door meeting, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, Communication and Public Affairs, Senator Bello Mohammed Tukur (Adamawa Central), explained that the senate was not able to conclude debate on the request and subsequently resolved to conclude it today.
But addressing reporters at the end of the closedoor meeting, Senators Ali Nduma (Borno South) and Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) stated their opposition to the approval of the extension rule in the affected states.
Ndume stated that he hinged his opposition to the request on the demand of his constituents.
He said: “My people are opposed to the extension of the emergency rule because the emergency rule has done more harm than good to them. While the current rule lasts, the insurgents have continued to kill my people and continued to take more towns while we have recorded more refugees.”
The senator pointed out that section 218 of the constitution has given the President powers to deploy troops to any troubled parts of the countries without necessarily doing so under emergency rule.
He cited Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa as some of the states where the President deployed troops to contain insurgency without necessarily doing so under emergency rule.
Lawan on his part stated that the emergency rule has failed to contain the insurgents while it lasted and wondered why the National Assembly will continue to grant the extension of the rule.
He also said that members of his constituents have asked him to oppose the President’s request for the extension of the rule.
The lawmaker regretted that while the emergency rule subsisted, it has never deterred the insurgents from continuing to wreck havoc on the populace; killing, maiming, kidnapping, annexing and renaming territories.
The leadership of the House of Representatives yesterday rose from a crucial meeting and resolved to reconvene House tomorrow to deliberate on the request for the extension of State of Emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The resolution to reconvene the House on Thursday, November 20th as against the earlier adjourned date of December 3rd just after the defection of the speaker, Hon Aminu Tambuwal to APC to allow members to perform their oversight functions.
In a statement personally signed by the Speaker, he said: “On Tuesday, 18th November 2014, I received a communication from the President, Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, requesting for the extension of the existing State of Emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States by the House of Representatives.
“Pursuant to the powers conferred on me by Section 305 ( 2 ) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which requires me to “forthwith convene or arrange a meeting of the House” and in order to treat the extension before the expiration of the current State of Emergency in accordance with Section 305 (6) (c) of the Constitution, I hereby reconvene the House of Representatives, currently on Recess, as follows”.
The chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon Albert Sam-Tsowa, said that the leadership has resolved that there was the need to reconvene the House to deliberate on Mr. President’s request.
Other pressing issuse before the House is the $73 benchmark for the price of crude oil fixed by the Federal Government and other issues confronting the nation.
This was to prepare ground for the presentation of the 2015 Appropriation Bill by President Goodluck Jonathan and also for members to commence the debate on the general principles of the budget.
Meanwhile, a middle aged man suspected to be a suicide bomber was yesterday afternoon lynched Gombe while trying to detonate Improvised Explosive Devices, IED’s, loaded in a bad at the popular Gombe Line motor park in the heart of Gombe town.
Eyewitnesses said the suspect who tried to force himself through the main gate of the motor park with his bag when security personnel were screening passengers, was immediately apprehended by angry youths and set on fire after the explosives were found tin the bag.
However, the State Police Commissioner, Abdullahi Kudu Mna who arrived the scene almost immediately, told reporters that the explosion would have been devastating if it had exploded at the scene where about ten persons had died after a bomb exploded barely three weeks ago.
According to him, he was pleased with the response of the Police and other security outfits even though the suspect was mobbed to death by the angry youths.
He explained that the man tried to force himself into the park even when the security at the gate insisted his bag must be searched but that onlookers pounced on the suspect and the mob action prevailed.
The police boss said five components of rocket propelled grenades and other components of explosives were found in the suspect’s bag while Police had since cordoned the area and dispersed onlookers from the scene as at the time of filing this report.
He also cautioned members of the public to be more alert and security conscious.
It will be recalled that barely three weeks ago, a bomb was detonated in the parks killing no fewer than 10 persons around 10:00 am when business at the park was at its peak.
In a related development, the Federal Government yesterday came under attack by Christians in the North who Abuja of “abdicating its responsibility to protect lives” while the Boko Haram insurgents continue to wreck havoc in the region.
Over 2,000 Christians from northern states including Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe among others who were displaced as a result of the insurgency yesterday gathered at the headquarters of the Church of the Brethren (EYN Church) in Jos, the Plateau state capital to make their complaints.
Addressing journalists on their behalf, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, North Central Zone(Youth wing) Mr. Daniel Kadzai lamented the plight of Christians in the North saying no explanation by government can justify the ongoing genocide by Boko Haram insurgents.
He said Christians in the North were disappointed with the response of the international community to the pogrom by Boko Haram with the active connivance of the Federal Government.
“We have lost confidence in the Federal Government of Nigeria. Available information show that 11,213 Christians have been killed by the insurgents before Mubi, Maiha, Hong and Gombi Local Governments finally fell to them.
So far, 1.56 million persons have been displaced by the insurgents. These are mostly children and elderly people. There are other affected churches like COCIN, ECWA, Deeper Life, RCCG, Praise Chapel, Baptist and many others that we do not have information on their level of victimisation. We express our disappointment with the international community that with over 11,000 persons killed and over one million displaced, the international community has refused to notice the pogrom on northern Nigerian Christians. Rather they have shifted their attention and resources only to Iraq, Syria, Gaza and Afghanistan as if those being killed are not human beings
He said that over 700,000 members of EYN church mostly women and children and now scattered while over 8,000 members have been murdered by the insurgents.
The Christian body therefore called on the United Nations to intervene and declare the North Eastern Nigeria its territory without further delay and send in Peace Keeping troops to secure the lives of the remaining traumatised people.
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| Nigerian Senate members in session. |
Nigerian Mirror
Nov 19, 2014
Senators from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states yesterday kicked against any extension of the state of emergency in their states as the Senate began deliberation on President Goodluck Jonathan’s request to extend the regime for another six months.
The debate took place in a heated closed-door session and the lawmakers could not reach a consensus on the matter. They adjourned further debate on the issue till today.
Section 305(6)(c) provides that the request for the proclamation of state emergency by the President must be approved by the National Assembly within two days while the parliament is in session or 10 days to reconvene the parliament when the lawmakers are on break.
The section provides that if the National Assembly is not able to approve the emergency rule within the above period, it would automatically stand nullified.
The debate took place even as senators from the affected states mounted stout opposition against the approval of the request by the President.
The President, had in a letter addressed to the Senate President, David Mark and read on the floor of the house yesterday explained that by the virtue of the provision of section 305(6) (c) of the 1999 constitution the current emergency rule in operation in the three northern states will elapse after a period of six months except the period is extended by the National Assembly.
He further explained that despite the concerted efforts by his administration to stem the tide of terrorism and insurgency in the affected states, the security challenges that necessitated the proclamation are yet to abate, stressing that, “consequently, it became imperative to request the approval of the senate for extension of the period for the state of emergency for further period of six month.”
The President said in view of the foregoing, the senate should consider and approve by resolution, the extension of the proclamation of the state of emergency by further period of six months.
The state of emergency was first approved by the National Assembly in November last year and extended on May 21 this year.
However, after Mark had read the President’s letter and citing order 40 of the senate standing orders, Senate Leader, Senator Ndoma- Egba moved that the senate should commence deliberation on the letter.
The Leader’s motion was supported by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume.
Following some initial arguments among the senators, a decision was taken by the lawmakers to retire into executive session to deliberate on the matter.
After about one and half hours deliberation on the matter, the senators rose.
Briefing senate correspondents on the outcome of the close/door meeting, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, Communication and Public Affairs, Senator Bello Mohammed Tukur (Adamawa Central), explained that the senate was not able to conclude debate on the request and subsequently resolved to conclude it today.
But addressing reporters at the end of the closedoor meeting, Senators Ali Nduma (Borno South) and Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) stated their opposition to the approval of the extension rule in the affected states.
Ndume stated that he hinged his opposition to the request on the demand of his constituents.
He said: “My people are opposed to the extension of the emergency rule because the emergency rule has done more harm than good to them. While the current rule lasts, the insurgents have continued to kill my people and continued to take more towns while we have recorded more refugees.”
The senator pointed out that section 218 of the constitution has given the President powers to deploy troops to any troubled parts of the countries without necessarily doing so under emergency rule.
He cited Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa as some of the states where the President deployed troops to contain insurgency without necessarily doing so under emergency rule.
Lawan on his part stated that the emergency rule has failed to contain the insurgents while it lasted and wondered why the National Assembly will continue to grant the extension of the rule.
He also said that members of his constituents have asked him to oppose the President’s request for the extension of the rule.
The lawmaker regretted that while the emergency rule subsisted, it has never deterred the insurgents from continuing to wreck havoc on the populace; killing, maiming, kidnapping, annexing and renaming territories.
The leadership of the House of Representatives yesterday rose from a crucial meeting and resolved to reconvene House tomorrow to deliberate on the request for the extension of State of Emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The resolution to reconvene the House on Thursday, November 20th as against the earlier adjourned date of December 3rd just after the defection of the speaker, Hon Aminu Tambuwal to APC to allow members to perform their oversight functions.
In a statement personally signed by the Speaker, he said: “On Tuesday, 18th November 2014, I received a communication from the President, Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, requesting for the extension of the existing State of Emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States by the House of Representatives.
“Pursuant to the powers conferred on me by Section 305 ( 2 ) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which requires me to “forthwith convene or arrange a meeting of the House” and in order to treat the extension before the expiration of the current State of Emergency in accordance with Section 305 (6) (c) of the Constitution, I hereby reconvene the House of Representatives, currently on Recess, as follows”.
The chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon Albert Sam-Tsowa, said that the leadership has resolved that there was the need to reconvene the House to deliberate on Mr. President’s request.
Other pressing issuse before the House is the $73 benchmark for the price of crude oil fixed by the Federal Government and other issues confronting the nation.
This was to prepare ground for the presentation of the 2015 Appropriation Bill by President Goodluck Jonathan and also for members to commence the debate on the general principles of the budget.
Meanwhile, a middle aged man suspected to be a suicide bomber was yesterday afternoon lynched Gombe while trying to detonate Improvised Explosive Devices, IED’s, loaded in a bad at the popular Gombe Line motor park in the heart of Gombe town.
Eyewitnesses said the suspect who tried to force himself through the main gate of the motor park with his bag when security personnel were screening passengers, was immediately apprehended by angry youths and set on fire after the explosives were found tin the bag.
However, the State Police Commissioner, Abdullahi Kudu Mna who arrived the scene almost immediately, told reporters that the explosion would have been devastating if it had exploded at the scene where about ten persons had died after a bomb exploded barely three weeks ago.
According to him, he was pleased with the response of the Police and other security outfits even though the suspect was mobbed to death by the angry youths.
He explained that the man tried to force himself into the park even when the security at the gate insisted his bag must be searched but that onlookers pounced on the suspect and the mob action prevailed.
The police boss said five components of rocket propelled grenades and other components of explosives were found in the suspect’s bag while Police had since cordoned the area and dispersed onlookers from the scene as at the time of filing this report.
He also cautioned members of the public to be more alert and security conscious.
It will be recalled that barely three weeks ago, a bomb was detonated in the parks killing no fewer than 10 persons around 10:00 am when business at the park was at its peak.
In a related development, the Federal Government yesterday came under attack by Christians in the North who Abuja of “abdicating its responsibility to protect lives” while the Boko Haram insurgents continue to wreck havoc in the region.
Over 2,000 Christians from northern states including Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe among others who were displaced as a result of the insurgency yesterday gathered at the headquarters of the Church of the Brethren (EYN Church) in Jos, the Plateau state capital to make their complaints.
Addressing journalists on their behalf, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, North Central Zone(Youth wing) Mr. Daniel Kadzai lamented the plight of Christians in the North saying no explanation by government can justify the ongoing genocide by Boko Haram insurgents.
He said Christians in the North were disappointed with the response of the international community to the pogrom by Boko Haram with the active connivance of the Federal Government.
“We have lost confidence in the Federal Government of Nigeria. Available information show that 11,213 Christians have been killed by the insurgents before Mubi, Maiha, Hong and Gombi Local Governments finally fell to them.
So far, 1.56 million persons have been displaced by the insurgents. These are mostly children and elderly people. There are other affected churches like COCIN, ECWA, Deeper Life, RCCG, Praise Chapel, Baptist and many others that we do not have information on their level of victimisation. We express our disappointment with the international community that with over 11,000 persons killed and over one million displaced, the international community has refused to notice the pogrom on northern Nigerian Christians. Rather they have shifted their attention and resources only to Iraq, Syria, Gaza and Afghanistan as if those being killed are not human beings
He said that over 700,000 members of EYN church mostly women and children and now scattered while over 8,000 members have been murdered by the insurgents.
The Christian body therefore called on the United Nations to intervene and declare the North Eastern Nigeria its territory without further delay and send in Peace Keeping troops to secure the lives of the remaining traumatised people.
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