A proposal to extend the emergency rule in the three states is already before the National Assembly and if the lawmakers approved the request it would be the third time such request would be granted.
Jonathan first imposed state of emergency on the three states in May last year while a request for another six months was granted in November 2013.
A statement by the Special Adviser to Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam on Press Affairs and Information, Mallam Bego Abdullahi, on Wednesday, read in part, "It has come to the notice of His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam that the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has written to the National Assembly asking for yet another extension of Emergency Rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states as the current emergency rule expires in the next few days.
"The Yobe State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, takes very strong exception to this move by the President. We believe that extending emergency rule is not the answer to the prevailing security challenges in the three affected states in view of the apparent failure of the same measure over the last 12 months."
"As some may recall, Governor Gaidam had supported the first emergency declaration made by the President back in May 2013. He did so because he believed a more heightened effort was needed to deal with the escalating security challenges at the time. Six months on, emergency rule was a mixed-bag that was marked more by failure than by success. So, when the President went back to the National Assembly in November 2013 to ask for an extension, Governor Gaidam was among many leaders across the country who expressed reservations and asked for a change of strategy.
"For instance, over the six months of emergency rule and later over the second, we have seen some of the worst attacks by Boko Haram in Yobe State. From GSS Damaturu to GSS Mamudo to College of Agriculture Gujba and FGC Buni Yadi, more than 120 students were killed by insurgents. There were many other attacks in Gujba and Damaturu local governments. Although the security forces on the ground have done and continue to do their best under the circumstances, insurgents and criminals have always carried out attacks when they wanted to and have almost always got away with their barbarous and despicable acts.
"As the President now asks for another extension, it is time to ask whether any lessons have been learnt over the previous 12 months and whether the very patriotic suggestions made by the Yobe State government, other affected state governments and Nigerians generally, have been taken into account in the ongoing effort to deal with Boko Haram insurgency."
The statement added that the Federal Government needed to evaluate its military strategy regularly and arm the security agents appropriately.
It said, "It is our considered opinion that the military and other security forces can remain on the ground in the affected states and do their work until Boko Haram is defeated or made to surrender. In fact, we request that more boots should be deployed to accelerate the pace of effort against Boko Haram. We believe, however, that this can be done without the imposition of a state of emergency.
"We also believe that the Federal Government needs to evaluate its military strategy regularly, provide additional and superior weaponry to the security forces and use the endowments of advanced communications and satellite technology to be several steps ahead of the insurgents.
"There are security challenges in Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Taraba and Kaduna states and even the Federal Capital Territory. Yet, in all these places, the military and other security forces have continued to do their work of trying to restore order without an 'Emergency Rule' being declared by the President.
"It is therefore our considered opinion that a new approach is needed by the federal government to defeat Boko Haram, restore peace and stability, and rebuild the livelihoods that have been lost."
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