Northern senators to vote against emergency rule extension

By ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, Abuja 

Rising from a three-hour meeting yesterday, northern senators re­solved to vote against extension of emergency rule imposed on three Northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe by President Goodluck Jonathan last May.

The lawmakers, who met under the aegis of Northern Senators Forum ( NSF) said the extension would not be the best way to combat Boko Haram’s insurgency which had paralyzed social and economic activities in the states.
NSF Chairman, Umaru Dahiru from Sokoto State, told newsmen after the meeting that the group has raised a committee to meet with the state governments on the way forward.
His words: “Our meeting this afternoon discussed basically, the issue of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. Everybody in attendance made contributions and a lot was said.
“The majority position is basically that we are not going to support extension of the state of emergency. That is our position because we are not convinced that it is only emergency rule that could make the security personnel to achieve success in the area. We believe a lot of things ought to be addressed in order to combat insurgency. So, our own position is that we are not going to support extension of the emergency rule in the area.
“We are going to engage the three governors in the affected states in talks, we want to know what went wrong to be able to come up with better ways to tackle the crisis. However,  the government must work for the benefits of its citizens. The leaderships of the affected states and our forum here are saying no to emergency rule extension.
“The Constitution requires two-thirds majority in terms of voting. Of course, we are going to vote on the issue. If we can outnumber them during voting, fine,  but of course,  our position is that we are going to vote against it.
“Technically,  Section 304 sub-section 6, states the requirements of how the state of emergency should be declared and our own position is against it and obviously, we are going to stand by it.”
Senator Dahiru said the way out of the crisis would be made known after the NSF committee had submitted its report and conveyed the recommendations to the Federal Government.
He commended the efforts of the military in the fight against insurgency and pledged the support of his group on whatever would be needed to ensure success.
The NSF chairman also expressed support for the decision of foreign powers to assist the country to rescue the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State, but maintained that such support must be on the terms of the Federal Government.

REF  http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=63608