The Senate yesterday gave its nod to the request by President Goodluck Jonathan to extend emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States respectively in spite of protests by the Adamawa State government, which argued that the request should be treated on merit of individual states.
Jonathan had in a letter dated November 5, 2013 to both leaders of the National Assembly, sought an extension of the emergency rule he declared in the North-east states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa on May 14, 2013.
He said the extension if and when granted by the parliament, would take effect from November 12, 2013, meaning that if approved, the state of emergency will terminate on May 11, 2014 thereby making it exactly one year.
Before acceding to the president’s request, the lawmakers held a closed-door session for over one hour during which a security report on the progress of the emergency rule sent in by the Mr. Jonathan was read by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session.
Subsequently, a motion for the approval was moved by Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba and lawmakers voted unanimously in favour of the extension.
Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday summoned the Service Chiefs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to brief it on the impact of the state of emergency in the three states. The MPs further agreed to permit President Jonathan to address a joint session of the National Assembly and present the 2014 Appropriation Bill next Tuesday, November 12, 2013.
-Daily Trust
Bravo senate,men of matured minds & always not bias or tribal sentiment,please keep the flag flying.