President
Goodluck Jonathan has requested that the
National Assembly grant him power to further elongate emergency rule for six
more months. Jonathan’s request, dated May 2, 2014, was read to members
yesterday.
This move
has been met with opposition in the person of the Governor of Adamawa state, Reacting
to the request, Nyako described the action as ill-advised and a wrong step in
quelling rising insurgency in the North-East.
According
to the governor, who made his position known through his Director of Press and
Public Affairs, Ahmed Sajoh, there is no need for the imposition of emergency
rule in the state, as it has not mitigated the level of attacks by terrorists.
The
governor pointed out that there had been even more attacks in the state since
the declaration of emergency rule by President Jonathan last year than when
there was no emergency in the area.
The
governor pointed out that there had been even more attacks in the state since
the declaration of emergency rule by President Jonathan last year than when
there was no emergency in the area.
He said:
“We still hold our position that there was no need to declare a state of
emergency in Adamawa in the first place, because the level of attacks in the
state has even increased with the imposition of emergency rule.
“As far
as we are concerned, the state of emergency has not changed anything and we
advise the government to adopt a new approach in tackling the insurgency rather
than the business as usual tactics that do not add up.”
Governor
Nyako, last month described the Presidency’s fight against rising terrorism in
the north-east as genocide against the people of the region.
Senators from that region are also
opposed to the move, Senator Mohammed
Ndume (APC, Borno South), said the state of emergency had not served the
purpose for which it was declared about one year ago.
Senator Ahmed Zanna (PDP, Borno
Central), also vehemently opposed the
extension, saying that the emergency rule did not stop the terrorist activities
in the states involved.
The National Assembly is expected to debate on the issue.
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