The request by President Goodluck Jonathan to extend the emergency rule declared in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states in May this year by six months was, yesterday, approved by the House of Representatives.
The House gave its nod for the extension after a closed door meeting with the Service Chiefs.
The Senate had approved the same request by President Goodluck Jonathan about two weeks ago, even as the Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, said that the emergency rule in the three states would not be restored until stability was achieved.
Badeh spoke in an interview with journalists in Ilorin, shortly after inspecting the hangar being constructed at Ilorin International Airport and the state-owned International Aviation College in Ilorin, noting that the current state of emergency would last longer than expected.
House Leader’s motion
The Leader of the House, Mulikat Akande-Adeola moved a motion that the House should suspend its relevant rules to usher in the Service Chiefs, after which the members went into a closed door meeting with the military chiefs.
Joint Military Task Force (JTF) patroling the streets of the restive northeastern Nigerian town of Maiduguri, Borno State. AFP photos
Joint Military Task Force (JTF) patroling the streets of the restive northeastern Nigerian town of Maiduguri, Borno State. AFP photos
Resuming after about two hours, the Speaker said that having heard from the seniour military officers on the situation in the troubled zone, it was necessary to grant the request by the President.
Consequently, the Leader of the House was invited to move the motion for adoption.
While moving the motion, Adeola said that “recognising the efforts so far made by security agencies deployed to the affected areas in curtailing the activities of insurgents and some security challenges that still exist in some parts of the affected areas; the House of Representatives approve the extension of the proclamation of a state of emergency as contained in the Emergency Power (General) Regulations, 2013 effective in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states to remain in a further period of six months.”
The motion was later put to vote by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal and it received the nod of the majority of the members.
CAS on emergency rule
Meanwhile, speaking in Ilorin, the CAS noted that the current state of emergency may continue for a longer period than expected.
Badeh explained that the extension became necessary because, the required level of stability needed in most parts of North East had not been achieved.
His words: ”The Armed Forces was created, basically to secure Nigerians and make sure that we have a stable civil government in place and to further ensure social well-being of every Nigerian.
“The state of emergency was declared on May 12 and it was supposed to be lifted by November 12, but we have not yet achieved the required level of stability we need in those areas, which eventually called for extension of the state of emergency. So, I do not know why people are complaining about the extension saying it has imposed hardship on them.
‘’Absolutely, they have lost nothing by the extension. People should stop deceiving Nigerians about the imposition of the state of emergency.’’
Warns politicians
He then warned politicians against making inflammatory comments on the issue, pointing out that the administrations of the affected state governments had not been disturbed in any way by the state of emergency.
“Government has not stopped their funding neither has it stopped anything being done in those areas. Rather, the action has only given us the latitude to arrest and detain without taking you to court within 48 hours and also to go and look for the perpetrators of the evil acts in the areas since they have waged war against the Armed Forces,” he added.
Role of Air Force
On the role of the Air Force, Badeh said it was fully involved in security operations in all the states of the federation, adding that its involvement dated back to the period of joint task force in the Niger Delta.
He also said that,”Militancy was brought to an end mainly because the Air Force responded with force. Before then, people were having their free ways. Right now in Jos, Maiduguri and other states in the North East region, we are fully involved.’’ Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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