Northern Senators Oppose Another State of Emergency

The Senate on Tuesday suspended the consideration Of President Goodluck

Jonathan’s letter requesting the extension of a state of emergency in
Adamawa, Borno and Yobe following oppositions from Northern Senators
especially from the North East region.

Senator Ali Ndume who is currently facing legal battles over his links
with the Boko Haram sect said another state of emergency in the region is
not necessary since earlier ones have failed to achieve results.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that shortly after the
introduction of the motion by the Senate Leader, Sen. 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 session, thereby compelling visitors to the chamber to leave.

Addressing newsmen after the closed session, Sen. Bello Tukur, Deputy
Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, said nothing concrete was
achieved from the Close 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, Sen. 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,’’ Ndume said.
(NAN)