Nigeria Senators continues stand on emergency rule

• The real reason why Nigerian soldiers run from Boko Haram

Despite the continuous killing, situation in the North, the Nigeria senators have refused to to accept the request made by the military to extend the emergency rule in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

Soldiers tasked with fighting Boko Haram militants arrive to face trials for mutiny in Abuja on October 2, 2014. Nearly 100 soldiers tasked with fighting Boko Haram militants in Nigeria’s far northeast appeared at a military court martial on Thursday, facing a range of charges including mutiny. The hearing comes just weeks after a tribunal sentenced 12 soldiers to death following their conviction for shooting at their commanding officer in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, in May. AFP PHOTO

This was concluded after the senators went in a close door meeting with the service chiefs for eight hours on Tuesday. Emergency rules expired since November 20.

Service chiefs were summoned by the Senate weeks ago to give details of the situation in th three states under emergency rules since May, 2013 which expired on 20 Nov.

Senate refusal to agree on whether to extend the emergency rule or not has led to non-renewal of state of emergency in the three affected states.

Senators where pleaded to by the service chiefs during the eight hours meetings to grant the request, saying that the extension will enhance the war against terrorism.

According to a source who was privy to the discussion in the meeting, senators, mainly from the North, refused the plea to further the extension of the emergency rule.

The senators who took the hard stance are waiting for any fresh proclamation of emergency rule following the last expiration on November 20 by President Goodluck Jonathan as the plan is to make sure it meet a brick wall.

The source so also said that the eyes of the senators were opened to the reason while the fight against terrorism had not been successful after the service chief informed them of the low morale of soldiers from low motivation, possibly from the government, and that the soldiers are not combat ready or psychologically prepared to fight.

He explained further that Nigerians soldiers go into hiding instead of confronting the insurgents as a result of their lack of commitment.

“The morale of the soldiers is low. They are not combat ready. They are not psychologically ready. Soldiers are running away from battle. There is no agreement among them. There is no commitment. We don’t have military any longer,” he lamented.

The source disagreed to a question that the soldiers may not be motivated due to poor package despite the huge budgetary allocation for the prosecution of the war everywhere, adding that the cost of running military apparatus in every country is very expensive.

He aruged that the problem of not winning the war is not as a result of insufficient fund for the war nor is it about corruption or embezzlement of the security funds. He said that the soldiers are afraid as they are not ready to die because they think the country which does not seem to appreciate their contribution and huge sacrifice to the nation, is not worth dying for

Furthermore, he attributed low morale among Nigerian soldiers to lack of value for their individual lives by both the government and military authorities, noting that the soldiers must have seen the shoddy manner the corpses of their fallen colleagues were treated including being buried at mass graves on the battle front without allowing their families access to the corpses.

He contrasted the treatment of Nigerian soldiers with that of their counterparts in the United States whom he said were always given colourful state burial in a way that anyone would desire to serve his country in military capacity in view of the enviable burial rites usually accorded fallen soldiers.

According to him, when soldiers’ corpses are brought home from the battle front in the United States, they are received by the president, governors and senior military officials in the presence of their family members.

He also added that unlike the case in Nigeria, corpses of American soldiers brought from the battle fronts are usually within the range of three or four or at most 10 in extreme cases and are received amid paraphernalia of glory in the land.

“When that is done, who will see that and not wish to be a soldier when you realise how honourable it is to die fighting for your country? The family will also feel proud to see such high profile dignitaries gracing their loved one’s burial. But in our own case, soldiers are buried in shallow mass grave,” he said.

He insisted that it would be difficult for the senators to approve any fresh proclamation of emergency rule should the president opt to make any fresh request for it, noting that most senators are of the belief that the rule has failed to produce the desired result, especially as the rage of terror attacks have continued unabated.

The argument has also been made that the president, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has constitutional powers to deploy the military troops to wherever he wants without necessarily depending on the permit for an emergency rule.

But as if the insurgents are cashing-in on the said low morale of the Nigerian soldiers, they have upped the ante and frequency of the attacks  with the latest being the killing of dozens of people in a fresh attack on a Borno town, Shani, during a siege on it by members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect on Saturday night.

Some fleeing residents of the town, who spoke to journalists on phone, said over 30 armed Boko Haram fighters on motorcycles stormed Shani in southern part of the troubled state.

Shani is about 260 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and shares borders with some communities in equally troubled Adamawa State.

One of the fleeing residents, Elijah Ibrahim, said: “The terrorists came at about 8pm and started shooting at everything in sight. The gunshots were deafening and kept approaching my house that I had to run into the bush with my grown up children.”

He said: “I had to however leave my wife and my little children with her believing they would do them no harm. I slept in the bush with two grown ones and without going back into the town proceeded to Biu this morning.”

Ibrahim claimed that the insurgents set houses on fire to force residents out and that it has been difficult getting his wife and the children he left behind in Shani since Saturday night.

A military source in Biu confirmed the attack, adding that the insurgents burnt down a police station and other public buildings in the community.

The Borno State Police Commissioner, Clement Adoda, who also confirmed the attack on the town to journalists in Maiduguri on phone, said several property were destroyed but that no life was lost.

Shani had been under Boko Haram attack in the past, the Saturday invasion was the third since 2012 when insurgency escalated in the North-east region. The town, a council headquarters, came under heavy attacks shortly before the 2011 general election as suspected Boko Haram insurgents raided the local office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), killed some ad hoc staff and destroyed electoral materials.

The Shani Divisional Police Station was also attacked mid June 2014, with not less than five policemen killed.

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Nigeria Senators continues stand on emergency rule

Military mounts pressure on senate over emergency rule extension

As senate grills service chiefs for 8hrs

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru &Joseph Erunke

ABUJA—THE Senate yesterday grilled the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun and The Director of Department of State Service, Mr. Ekpenyong Ita for eight hours over the security situation in the North.

Nigerian soldiers

The senate also disclosed that the Nigeria military was mounting pressure on them for the extension of emergency rule in the three North Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe for them to be able to conduct operations in a manner that will bring insurgency to a quick resolution.

The red chambers failed to discuss President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for the extension of emergency rule in the affected states despite the fact that the emergency rule had expired Thursday last week.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who briefed newsmen after about eight hours closed-door session with the Service Chiefs, said that the Security heads insisted that the extension of emergency rule was necessary for the quick resolution of the insurgency in the affected states.

Senator Abaribe said that during the closed-door session, all the constraints the Nigerian military was facing towards bringing the insurgency to an end were deliberated as well as the military budgetary provisions.

According to him, “The senate in an executive session has spent more than eight hours interacting with the Chiefs of Staff of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The interaction was very frank and it was very detailed. We looked into what have been the constraints of the Nigerian Military in dealing with the insurgency; we also looked into the budgetary provisions for them and we looked into what has been done so far by the military in containing the insurgency.

“And I can tell you, the senate was very impressed with the response from the military and like I said, the military has shown itself to be capable of dealing with the insurgency. The fact that they are capable of dealing with the insurgency means that the senate will do all in its power to support the Nigeria military so that we can bring this insurgency to a quick resolution.

“We also found from their briefing that we have some problems which has to do with the troop levels and with the level of equipment and of course all the other ancillary problems where you have to fight what we call asymmetrical war and not a formal conflict.

“We are very glad that the military is at this moment, gearing up itself to be able to deal with this asymmetrical conflict in the North East of Nigeria. As of today, we have the briefing and we can reassure Nigerians that the military is up to the task of dealing with this matter.”

Commenting on the state of emergency, the senate spokesman said, “The question of the state of emergency was not what was on the table today and we are going to also wait until it is brought on the floor of the senate and we will now discuss it.

“What the senate did today was to separate the two questions. Of course the military continues to insist that they need the state of emergency to be able to conduct operations in a manner that will bring it to a quick resolution.

“When the senate now takes the question of state of emergency of course you will be there because it will be discussed in open plenary.”

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Military mounts pressure on senate over emergency rule extension

Emergency rule: Senate suspends debate on Jonathan’s letter again

The Senate, on Wednesday, for the second time, suspended deliberations on the President Goodluck Jonathan’s letter seeking another extension of the emergency rule in the three North – Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

The letter was read by Senate President, David Mark, on Tuesday and the senators went behind closed doors to discuss it but could not take any decision on whether to approve or reject the proposal.

At the resumed plenary on Wednesday, Senate leader, Victor Ndoma – Egba, moved a motion for the continuation of the letter’s consideration in a closed session.

At the end of the session which lasted about two hours, Mark explained that his colleagues have an extensive, frank and exhaustive debate over the issue but had to postpone further discussions on it to Thursday.

Mark said, “We had a very robust and detailed discussion and we will continue the discussion tomorrow. The senate also resolved that we will invite the service chiefs to be part of our discussion by appearing before the senate”

Speaking with journalists shortly after plenary, Senators Ahmed Lawan ( APC Yobe North) and Kabiru Gaya ( APC, Kano South), said they maintained their opposition to the extension of the emergency rule through out the meeting because they were not convinced that it would achieve the intended objective.

Gaya noted that the last time that the extension was granted before the extension, none of the local governments was under the control of Boko Haram but that now, in Borno State, there are 14 local governments out of 27 under the control of Boko Haram.

He said, “The state of emergency did not work there in that case. We have problem also in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, we lost two or three local governments in Yobe State and almost five local governments in Adamawa State.

“So the whole thing is retrospective, it’s going backward, it’s reducing. The problem is escalating, Borno camp has the highest number of refugees in Africa, I believe and we have over 25,000 to 30,000 people being paid daily to take their three square meals.

“So we believe there are a lot of questions to be answered by the service chiefs. We can’t just simply grant the state of emergency just like that without inviting them to tell us what really happened, because we gave eight conditions before when we granted the last request and no condition has been met.

“That is one of the problems. When you see an army officer hiding under a bed in your dormitory, and by the sound of Boko Haram, he runs out of that place, what would you do.

“The Nigerian army had high respect before, we fought the Liberian war and in many other places and we succeeded and now, up to 90 percent of the weapons and armory of the military are in the hands of Boko Haram.

” So, I believe that we have to wait until we hear from the Service Chiefs, if they are able to answer our questions, then we can take the next step.”

Lawan said, “We have granted two requests for extension in the past but for 18 months, the state of emergency did not work and we believe that there is no point going through the same process again.”

He insisted that the military did not need an emergency rule before it could successfully deal with the insurgency situation because there was no such proclamation in the Niger Delta region before the militants were flushed out of the place.

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Emergency rule: Senate suspends debate on Jonathan’s letter again

Senators reject emergency rule extension in Adamawa, others

A cross section of Senators on Tuesday disagreed with the fresh request by President Goodluck Jonathan to extend the emergency rule in the three North – Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, over the insurgency situation in the region.

Army, Jonathan fighting Boko Haram

The senate dissolved into a closed – door session to consider Jonathan’s letter seeking the extension of the proclamation, for another period of six months, following a motion  by the Senate leader, Victor Ndoma – Egba, who cited order 40 (2) of the Senate standing rule.

The senators reconvened after a two and half hours extensive brainstorming over the issue and announced that the discussion on it would be Wednesday.

Senate President, David Mark, at the resumption of plenary, said, “The Senate in a closed session met and discussed the letter from Mr President on the extension of a state of emergency.

“We had a very extensive debate on it. And we will continue with the debate Wednesday.

The Jonathan letter reads in part, “Extension of the period for the proclamation of a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

“May I respectfully draw your attention to the state of emergency proclamation 2013 in respect of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States which was approved by the National Assembly and extended for a further period of six months by the National Assembly as conveyed by the Clerk of the National Assembly dated 21st of May, 2014.

“By virtue of provisions of Sections 305, (6) C of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the proclamation afore mentioned will elapse after a period of six months from the date of approval of the National Assembly except the period is extended by the National Assembly.

“It is important to state that despite concerted efforts by this administration to stem the tide of terrorism and insurgency in the affected states, the security challenges that necessitated the proclamation are yet to abate.

“Consequently, it has become imperative to request the approval of the senate for extension of the period for the state of emergency for a further period of six months.

“In view of the foregoing, I most respectfully request distinguished senators to consider and approve by resolution the extension of the proclamation of the state of emergency by a further period of six months from the date of expiration of the current period.

“I look forward distinguished Senate President to the usual kind expeditious consideration of the above request by the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs,  Senator Bello Tukur (PDP, Adamawa Central), who briefed journalists after the senate had adjourned,  did not give details of what transpired at the closed-door session.

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Senators reject emergency rule extension in Adamawa, others

FG okays emergency rule extension in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

The Federal Government on Monday resolved to extend the state of emergency declared in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States for the third time.

Jonathan

The emergency rule was first declared in the affected states on May 14, 2013 by President Goodluck Jonathan over the continued activities of members of the Boko Haram sect.

Since that first declaration of six months, the emergency rule had been extended twice.

The third tranche of six-month emergency rule expires on Thursday.

The decision to extend it for the third time was taken at a meeting of the National Defence Council presided over by Jonathan on Monday.

THE PUNCH had reported exclusively earlier on Monday that a decision on whether to extend the emergency rule or not would be taken at the meeting.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Muhammed Adoke (SAN), disclosed the council’s decision to State House correspondents.

Adoke said having reviewed the emergency rule, the council resolved that the government should request the National Assembly to extend the emergency rule.

When asked when the request would be sent bearing in mind that an arm of the National Assembly is currently on break, the minister said it would be done immediately.

“The council reviewed the issue of the state of emergency and the government will be requesting the National Assembly to extend the emergency rule. It (the communication) will go in immediately,” he said.

The Council which is one of the federal executive bodies established by Section 135 of the nation’s Constitution has the power to advise the President on matters relating to the defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria.

Its members include the President who shall be the chairman; the Vice President who shall be the Deputy Chairman;Minister of Defence; Chief of Defence Staff; Chief of Army Staff; Chief of Naval Staff; Chief of Air Staff; and such other members as the President may appoint.

Those who attended the Monday meeting included the CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; COAS, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; CNS, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; CAS, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu; Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba; and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Others were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim; Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Guasu (retd.); and the Minister of Interior, Mr. Aba Moro.

While declaring emergency rule in the three states in 2013 in a nationwide broadcast, Jonathan had invoked Section 305 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He had announced that regardless of the state of emergency imposed, the political structures in the affected states would remain intact.

Following continued violence in the state in spite of the emergency rule, there were calls for the sacking of the state governors to pave way for the appointment of military administrators.

The Presidency had however said it was unconstitutional for the President to sack state governors.

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FG okays emergency rule extension in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

Jonathan decides on emergency rule in Borno, others today

The Federal Government’s next line of action on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states at the expiration of the emergency rule imposed on the three north-eastern states will be decided on Monday (today), investigation by The PUNCH has revealed.

President Jonathan

The third tranche of six-month emergency rule imposed on the states following the continued activities of members of the Boko Haram sect expires on Thursday.

There have been speculations that President Goodluck Jonathan may impose “total emergency rule” on the states by appointing military administrators to take over from the state governors.

A top government official, who pleaded anonymity, however, told The PUNCH on Sunday that the decision on whether to renew the emergency rule or not would be taken at a meeting of the National Defence Council holding on Monday (today).

Although he said he would not preempt the outcome of the meeting, the government source however insisted that military administrators would not be appointed for the state, saying it would be unconstitutional to do so.

He said, “The National Defence Council is meeting tomorrow (today). After the meeting tomorrow (today), whatever decision is taken, you will be told. We cannot preempt the members.

“The council will be meeting by 11am on Monday and a decision will be taken on the state of emergency in the affected states and the way forward.”

The Council is one of the federal executive bodies established by Section 135 of the nation’s Constitution.

The source added that the current government would not embark on any illegality by sacking state governors under the guise of fighting insurgency.

He said all that would be done would be under the ambit of the law.

It will be recalled that Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, had told Sunday PUNCH in September that Jonathan was not contemplating replacing governors of the three states currently under emergency rule with military administrators because he had no power under the nation’s constitution to do so.

Abati disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH.

Abati had in that exclusive interview said the people clamouring for the removal of sitting governors in the affected states were doing so in error.

He said such people should be referred to the relevant section of the constitution that deals with the state of emergency, adding that there is nowhere in the section where the President was given such a power.

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Jonathan decides on emergency rule in Borno, others today

Old age supposed to come with wisdom, Shettima blasts Clark

The Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima,  yesterday asked a former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, to champion national issues instead of promoting sectional desires.

He also reminded Clark that power does not last forever, and he should manage his age with wisdom.

Shettima took a swipe at Clark while receiving members of the Niger Delta Peoples’ Forum in Borno State at the Government House, Maiduguri who came to protest against full emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

The group condemned Clark for demanding the appointment of military or sole administrators for the three states.

The governor said: “We are one people, the majority amongst us in terms of numerical strength, whether in tribe or religion, must give a  sense of belonging to the minority.

“It is people like Elder Edwin Clark that do not really understand who we are and who we should be in this country.

“Power doesn’t last forever. Every opportunity you have is one that you must miss some day. He is 87, he should be a father to all and he should champion the course of nation-building and not sectional interest, if for nothing else, at least for his age.

“From the moral point of view, God gives some consideration to the youngest and the eldest. Let us continue to urge him in a polite manner to see Nigeria beyond his walking stick.

“The hat that he puts on should provide shield not only to his grey hairs, but to the young hairs of other Nigerians, regardless of where they come from.

“Age should always go with wisdom of tolerance, wisdom of truth and defence of it, wisdom of togetherness and national unity,” Shettima said.

He told the Niger Deltans that he regards them as Borno people, contrary to what they named their group.

He added: “I will prefer to call you the Forum of Borno People from the Niger Delta. Some of you were born here in Borno State; some of you probably had parents or grandparents born in Borno.

“Most of you have something doing in whatever respect whether as businessmen, traders or whatever it is you are doing and by that, you are contributing to the economy of Borno State.

“The allocations given to Borno from the Federation Account is given based on our population amongst other indices being considered, and all of you here, regardless of where you consider your roots, make up the population of Borno State and this means you are stakeholders in what we get from the Federation Account, you are fully entitled to all public services and privileges that we provide as a government.

“When Boko Haram members, in their evil ways, planted explosives around the post office in January, this year, the explosives did not choose victims based on their backgrounds and what part of the country they came from, the explosives simply targeted residents of Maiduguri who happened to be on the spot. This is the same of other wicked attacks in any part of Borno State.

“So, to me and indeed to every reasonable person here, you are part and parcel of Borno State, you are sons and daughters of this state with roots from the Niger Delta.

“My ancestral background is the Nganzai Local  Government Area in Northern Borno, but I have adopted the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council as my official place of origin. We are all one people in this country.

“Believe me, I have never regarded Honourable Christopher Godwin Akaba as different from anyone that works with me on the basis of ethno-religious background and this was why immediately he was appointed as Special Assistant, I brought him directly under my office; I have seen his potential, his sincerity, zeal and commitment to progressive governance and this is what matters to me as a governor”.

Shettima said one of the best ways any society can grow fast is to open its doors to accommodate any person that lawfully lives within it regardless of his background.

He said the United States and the Dubai Kingdom in the U.A.E have become great mainly because they accommodate any good citizen across the world who desires to live and work there without being unlawful.

The governor called on members of the group to aspire for anything in Borno and be free to enjoy rights and request for privileges as others would do.

The Secretary General of the forum, Prince Stephen U.A. Ebri, who read a prepared text, faulted Clark’s agitation for full emergency in the three states.

He said members of the group used to feel ashamed when some elders from the Niger Delta speak ignorantly on issues.

“There is one issue that is seriously troubling the mind  of every one of us here and that is how some of our elders from the Niger Delta that are completely ignorant of the true situation in Borno State are attacking this government that is doing everything within its powers to address the problem.

“Sir, we were in Maiduguri when you were sworn in on May 29, 2011. In case our elders in the Niger Delta do not know, there are Niger Delta people living in Borno. We are from the Niger Delta, but our difference is that we are well informed about the true situation and they are ignorant, they don’t know, they don’t want to know and we don’t think they will ever know.

“We are not fools or sycophants; we are responsible people that will call a spade a spade. When you were sworn in, Maiduguri was in disarray. People were killed daily; bombs were every where; all of us were living in perpetual fears, young boys were threatening everyone with guns, calling phone numbers to threaten people.

“But today, Your Excellency, you have been able to lead the people of Maiduguri to rise against threats and defend themselves. Today, Maiduguri is an opposite of what it was when you came in.

“Rather than the fear and citizens’ imprisonment you met on May 29 2011, today there is peace, security and freedom in Maiduguri. It was you that led us to the peace through the intervention of God.”

The group faulted the agitation for full emergency by Clark in the three states.

The Secretary-General of the forum added: “We are worried so much by some of the utterances of our Niger Delta brothers like Asari Dokubo and elders like Chief Edwin Clark. Only yesterday, we read an advert by Chief Edwin Clark in the newspapers calling for the removal of governors, saying all manner of things that are out of absolute and annoying ignorance.

“Chief Clark said the Borno State Government is not cooperating with the Federal Government. How can a government that is using resources to finance security agencies be accused of being uncooperative when we all know that it is the Federal Government that is supposed to fund the security?

“We are angry and tired with these utterances that are making us very uncomfortable in a state that the people have been treating us with love and respect. This is a state government that went as far as giving a political appointment to a son of the Niger Delta who works directly with the governor.

“This is a government that appointed an Igbo man as a cabinet member and that Igbo man is in charge of community relations, that Igbo man has been with Your Excellency for many years.

“Sir, anytime people from Niger Delta speak on Borno out of ignorance, we feel very ashamed because all that they say are not the truth of the ground realities in Borno State and some people assume that we from the Niger Delta share the hate views of some of these people.

“We have had enough of them. They are trying to mislead Nigerians and they are making us unhappy in a place we have been happy for many years. In the light of the foregoing, we, the great people of the Niger Delta in Borno State, hereby, disassociate ourselves from all utterances made against the government and people of Borno State.

“We are, however, committed to any meaningful goal of the Niger Delta people which does not compromise the unity, peace and progress of the entity called Nigeria. The people of Niger Delta are reasonable, we are tolerant, we fight but we fight good courses.

“Anybody calling for the military is talking out of ignorance of the laws of this country. If anyone has a military man he wants to make Governor of Borno State, he shouldn’t come through the backdoor. He should sponsor that person to retire and contest elections for the governorship of Borno in 2015 and we will be very happy to send that person letters of commiseration after we successfully and proudly re-elect Governor Kashim Shettima in 2015 to continue his great work of sustaining the peace in Maiduguri and working to attract peace in the entire Borno State” the forum said. – The Nation

Old age supposed to come with wisdom, Shettima blasts Clark

House of reps okay emergency rule extension Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

For about two and a half hours, Service Chiefs met members of the House of Representatives yesterday to defend why the emergency rule in three states should be extended.

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

They said without the six-month extension, the United States and other Allied Forces cannot operate freely to rescue the 276 abducted girls.

Also, they confirmed that National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Marshal Alex Badeh had gone to France for a strategic meeting on how to rescue the Chibok girls whose abduction on April 15 has sparked a global outrage.

The Service Chiefs had a closed-door session with members of the House on whether or not to extend emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

They held Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and other members spell bound for two and half hours on the need for six more months of emergency rule in the three states.

They gave four key reasons to back their stand. These are:

•the situation in the states, which they described as “fragile”, “unpredictable” and a “threat to peace”;

•extension will boost intelligence gathering and operation against Boko Haram insurgents;

•emergency rule will give the U.S. and other foreign collaborators freedom and legal backing to operate and enter any part of Nigeria to free the abducted 276 girls; and

•to avoid trial/ sanction by International Criminal Court and other bodies if due process is not followed in military campaigns against insurgents.

It was gathered that the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Usman Jubrin, who stood in for the CDS, gave insights into the operation against the insurgents in the Northeast.

Admiral Jubrin said: “We need your support as our political leaders to make headway in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency. The six-month extension is necessary and we are hopeful that we should be able to curtail these insurgents.

“It is not as if it is convenient for all but it (emergency rule) is the only way to end this insurgency. We have so far succeeded in driving away the insurgents from Maiduguri and other parts of Borno State to only Sambisa Forest from where they come out to operate.

“With what is on ground and our operations so far, we need the extension of the emergency rule.

“We should also give our foreign collaborators, who are coming to assist, the enabling environment to operate. It is only under the state of emergency that they can function very well to search and rescue the abducted girls.

“The emergency rule gives legal backing for our operations and international intervention. Otherwise, after the insurgency, our soldiers and international collaborators will be appearing before International Criminal Court for crimes.

“We will get the abducted girls back, but we will not divulge operational information,” he said.

The Service Chiefs cited court verdicts on the invasion of Odi and Zaki-Biam to back up their demand for the extension of the emergency rule.

They said the invasion of the two towns during the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo became a subject of litigation because Obasanjo did not seek the legal backing of the National Assembly.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Kenneth Minimah said: “Although insurgency has abated in Yobe State, the extension of the emergency rule in the three states was designed to prevent Boko Haram from relocating to Yobe State to meet and plot attacks.”

Asked about the package for fallen troops, Gen. Minimah said: “Ideally, soldiers who died under two years in service are not entitled to certain perks and entitlements, but because of the nature of the battle against insurgents, equal treatment is being given to all gallant soldiers.”

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu, admitted that there had been under-funding of the military over the years.

“He added: “The neglect has been over the years; it is not just today. The Armed Forces will ask for N20billion but they will give N2billion.

“We plead with you to provide funds for the Armed Forces and security agencies to play their roles well.”

Inspector-General of Police Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar said: “The extension of the state of emergency will enable the military and security agencies to carry out more intelligence gathering and operate within the ambit of the law.

“If you give us the legal backing, the better. Nobody wants to go to ICC for trial after leaving office.”

The Director of the State Security Service, Ekpenyong Ita, said: “We have done a lot to foil many planned attacks by the insurgents. We have been taking preemptive action and we have aborted many attacks.

“We have also tracked down and arrested those behind some of the bomb explosions in some parts of the country.

“We are doing our best to rescue the abducted girls. Troops are closing in on Sambisa Forest.”

Overwhelmed by the brief from the Service Chiefs, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said: “As Nigerians, this is the time to rise above sentiments; we should be patriotic. Let us put national stability and security on the front burners.”

A source said: “With the emotion-laden evaluation of the Speaker and the brief from the Service Chiefs, we all bought the idea of extending the emergency rule.”

The House of Representatives consequently approved an extra six months extension of emergency rule in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

President Goodluck Jonathan had in a letter to the Speaker, dated May 5,  brought a equest to the National Assembly for an extension of the state of emergency in the Northeastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa

Media and Public Affairs Committee Chairman Zakari Mohammed told reporters after the executive session that the decision was devoid of party affiliation.

According to him, from the briefing received from the Service Chiefs, some men were lost during the operations, but that nonetheless, adequate provision had been made for the payment of pension and gratuity and motivation for the soldiers and security personnel involved in the operation.

He noted that the situation is an opportunity to share intelligence and information among security agencies and the international allies.

But the presidential request suffered a setback in the Senate, which failed to vote on it.

The Upper Chamber unanimously resolved to difer its consideration of the request.

It, however, invited Minister of Defence Aliyu Gusau, Col. Dasuki, Minister of Police Affairs Abduljelili Adesiyan, Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to appear before senators today.

Although the request was listed for debate on the order paper, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba moved a motion that it be deferred till today.

Ndoma-Egba said the Senate could only debate the proclamation of a state of emergency after it has been gazetted and copies of the gazette circulated to all senators.

He said the Senate would also require adequate briefing from the security agencies in camera on the progress of the ongoing emergency rule, which has been in place since May last year, before proceeding with the consideration.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session,  described the motion as “a very serious business which bothers on the security of a part of this country “.

Ekweremadu said the Senate need to be “well informed of the situation on ground and the efficiency or the effectiveness of the state of emergency in the past 12 months to enable us take a proper decision”.

“I, therefore, appeal that in accordance with the motion moved by the Senate Leader, we should step it down till another legislative day.”

Senator James Manager, who seconded  the motion said: “It is important to invite the Service Chiefs but since they were under some authorities, I want to amend the motion as proposed by the Senate Leader by adding two very important persons.

“First the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Police Affairs.”

House of reps okay emergency rule extension Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

Northern Senators vow to frustrate move to extend emergency rule

THE Senate and the House of Representatives have invited the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police to appear before them and brief them on the security situation in the troubled states before commencing debates on President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for extension of emergency rule.

This is just as Senators from the North, operating under the umbrella of Northern Senators Forum, NSF, after their closed-door meeting yesterday, which lasted about three hours, vowed to frustrate moves for the extension of emergency rule in the three North-East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

In their resolve to stop the extension of emergency rule, the northern Senators stated that they would mobilise in their numbers to have the constitutional requirement of two third to vote against the President’s decision to extend the emergency rule.

The Senators maintained that the extension of the emergency rule was not the best way to combat the insurgency that had paralysed social and economic activities in the affected areas even though they welcomed the intervention of friendly nations in the fight against terrorism.

NSF sets up c’ttee

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Chairman of NSF, Senator Umaru Dahiru, said the group had set up a committee to meet with the government of the affected states on the way forward.

Senator Dahiru, who represents Sokoto South Senatorial district in the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said: “Our meeting this (yesterday) 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 that we are not going with the state of emergency. That is our categorical position because we are not convinced that it is only the issue of emergency rule that could make the security personnel to achieve success in the area.

“We believe a lot of things ought to be addressed to conquer the issue of insurgency.

“We are going to engage the three governors in the affected states. We want to know what went wrong to be able to come up with better ways to tackle the crisis.

“The constitution requires two third majority in terms of voting. Of course we are going to vote on the issue. If we can outnumber them during the voting, fine.”

He commended the efforts of the military against the insurgents and pledged the support of his group on whatever would be needed to ensure their success.

Senator Dahiru expressed support for the decision of friendly foreign powers to assist the country to rescue the schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram sect, but noted that such help must be on the terms of the Nigerian government.

Service chiefs, IG for debriefing

Meanwhile, the Senate, yesterday, invited the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, to appear before it today for a briefing on the security situation in the three states where state of emergency was imposed, before commencing debates on the President’s extension request.

Also to appear before the Senate are the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence and the Minister of Police Affairs.

While postponing debate on the motion, the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, who was to move the motion for the extension of the emergency rule urged members to allow the item be stepped down until another legislative session.

Gazette before debate

Senator Ndoma Egba stated that the aspect of the constitution dealing with emergency rule had not been gazetted and that the Senate was yet to review the success or otherwise of the emergency rule which had been in place since May last year.

He said: “The proclamation by the requirements of the constitution is supposed to be gazetted. We must circulate the gazette before we can debate it. Secondly, it has been the tradition of this Senate that before debates, we appraise and access the performance of the state of emergency.

“So I will move that this distinguished Senate do invite the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Inspector-General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, to brief this Senate at 10a.m. today in a close session to enable us to commence debate on the President request.”

Senator James Manager seconded the motion and added that the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence and Minister of Police Affairs be also invited.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, described the motion as very serious, adding “I, therefore, appeal that in accordance with the motion moved by the Senate Leader, we should step it down till another legislative day.”

Reps defer voting until…

The House of Representatives also deferred voting on the extension till today to enable all the service chiefs brief them on the security challenges in the troubled states.

The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, who presided, made the announcement at the plenary after contributions by some members, said the service chiefs would brief the House before the commencement of voting today.

Leading the debate, the Majority Leader, Mulikat Akande Adeola (PDP Oyo), said the House on November 20, 2013, considered and approved the extension of emergency in the three states.

The constitution

She said according to the provisions of Section 305 (6) (c) of the Constitution, as amended, would elapse after a period of six months from the date of approval, except the period is extended by the National Assembly.

The Section states: “Provided that the National Assembly may, before the expiration of the period of six months aforesaid, extend the period for the proclamation of the state of emergency to remain in force from time to time for a further period of six months by resolution in the like manner.”

More than 20 lawmakers spoke in support of the extension, withe six against.

Leader of the Borno caucus in the House, Mohammed Monguno (APC), who was first to contribute, said the Borno caucus was in support of the extension.

Kaka Gujbawu (PDP, Borno), said the emergency rule should be extended so insecurity could be tackled.

Titsi Ganama (PDP, Adamawa), Ali Yakubu (PDP, Yobe) and Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu) are some of the lawmakers who spoke in support of the extension.

No to extension

Goni Bukar Haruna (APC, Yobe), who spoke on behalf of two other lawmakers from the state, said: “On behalf of the people and government of Yobe State, I stand to oppose the extension of the state of emergency.

It has not helped us in any way. Rather, it only succeeded in aggravating the insurgency. Since they declared it one year ago, many people have been killed in the states more than when there was no emergency.”

Hassan El Badawy (APC, Yobe) and Emmanuel Jime (APC, Benue), opposed the extension, with the latter adding that Jonathan should “invoke his constitutional powers” to make the Terrorism Prevention Act come to full force.

Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, said emergency rule affects the rights of the people in the affected states and advised Jonathan to invoke his constitutional powers, while Andrew Uchendu (APC, Rivers), suggested a meeting of the leadership of the National Assembly with the President to fashion out a workable way of checking terrorism.

Constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) and Mr. Yinka Farounbi, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ikeja branch, backed the extension.

While Sagay pointed out that no power exists in the Constitution for removal of governors because of the declaration of state of emergency, Farounbi called for a collaborative effort in addressing the security challenges in the states.

 

Northern Senators vow to frustrate move to extend emergency rule

State of Emergency: Military Wants Gov. Nyako, 2 others Suspended

The Security Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday would consider suspending the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, with a view to imposing total emergency rule. This would entail the suspension of all democratic structures in the affected states, should the idea sail through.

Officially, the emergency rule ended at the weekend, but the military authorities have asked President Goodluck Jonathan to extend it, since the war against the insurgency is far from over.

According to a top ranking officer in the military, the security chiefs had indicted some top politicians and elite in the Northeast, for sabotaging the ongoing operations against the insurgents and wanted the governors and Houses of Assembly in the affected states suspended while the operations lasted.

“The politicians and elite, including the governors in those states, are working against our programme; their unguarded utterances are daring the insurgents. They seem to have known the agenda of the insurgents and they are always ready to defend them. For example, whenever these criminals attack, killing innocent people, these politicians would blame us and whenever we are able to locate their hideouts and smoke them out, they would be out accusing us of killing innocent Nigerians. This is why some of us are of the opinion that suspending them while the emergency rule lasts is the best option,” the officer said.

Speaking further, he made reference to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa and a serving senator, as being part of the alleged sabotage.

“These politicians are making our job difficult, you don’t even know on whose side they are. But from all indications, they are not supporting our operations. One of the governors the other time said the insurgents were better armed than our troops. Just this weekend, I was reading the rubbish Nyako was saying, accusing the military of being responsible for the killings being done by those criminals.

“I don’t blame Governor Nyako for saying all that rubbish. If those governors had been suspended from office, as was the practice during the Obasanjo era; most of the problems we are facing in those states are coming from the governors there. They are contributing more to the problems we are facing.”

A presidency source, who corroborated our military source, explained further that the Security Council would consider all options available before taking a decision.

“It is true some are calling for the suspension of the governors and the Houses of Assembly in the three states, but that is not the only option or suggestion, we still have others. For example, some are calling for the full implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act and if that is accepted, the democratic structures remain. If I may let you know, President Jonathan wants them be (sic). The problem is some of their activities that are not helping the counter-insurgent operations and I think we could still manage it.”

He said, “To suspend these people may not be a way out, because if they could be working at cross purposes while they are still in office, you can imagine the havoc they could do while on suspension. But the ideal thing is for the counter-insurgent operation to be done with full co-operation of all the stakeholders, irrespective of their political and religious persuasions.”

Another military officer accused Senator Ahmed Zannah from Borno State of sabotaging the operation and said there were some incidents the security operatives may need to clarify from him.

“Senator Zannah often comes to the Defence Headquarters and each time he comes, the aftermath is always with one controversy or the other. But our people in his home state are waiting for him to explain some coincidences that have to do with him.

“Two, each time he surfaces in Borno State, that is when the activities of the insurgents are heightened. Three, he seems to know more of the insurgents than we do. For example, he knows that some of their locations we said we have attacked are still intact. Four, why does his speech always betray him as somebody working for the insurgents and why has he never seen anything good in what we are doing?”

When asked why those questions could not be raised when he goes to the DHQ, the source said, “For expediency and tactical reasons. It is in his home state that our people need him, not here. Although we are told he said he has no problem with us, but with the Presidency. But his utterances and actions are not helping us.”

When the Defence spokesman was asked to confirm or deny the allegation, he said, “We are not interested in engaging Senator Zannah in a media war.”

But a top officer at the Defence Headquarters added another dimension to the discourse when he faulted the expiry date of the emergency rule. According to this serving general, who asked for anonymity since he had no right to speak for the DHQ, the emergency rule continues until May.

“I have been reading it from the papers that the emergency rule ended today (last Saturday). That cannot be true. The first broadcast of the commander-in-chief, President [Goodluck] Jonathan was made on May 14, 2013 and the first six months of the emergency rule ended in November and if another six months began in November, that should tell you it would not end until May. So, where are the media getting this 19th April date? I suspect the so-called stakeholders from Yobe and Borno, who were calling for an end to the emergency rule. Go and do your work very well. If the emergency would not be extended, it is when the ongoing ends in May.”

State of Emergency: Military Wants Gov. Nyako, 2 others Suspended

Governors Nyako, other oppose emergency rule extension

Governors of the three states under emergency rule in the Northeast opposed yesterday the attempt to extend the controversial measure.

Governor Nyako and Governor Suswam

The second strand of the emergency rule is expected to end on April 19.

The Presidency is weighing its options on the “sensitive” matter.

Besides rejecting the extension of emergency rule, the governors are also asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to learn from last week’s general elections in Afghanistan and conduct polls in their states next year.

The Boko Haram insurgency, has led to thousands of deaths and great hardship in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

To the governors, shelving elections in the three states would amount to succumbing to or conceding victory to the deadly sect.

They asked INEC to work with the Federal Government to provide adequate security for a free and fair poll in the affected states.

The governors – Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe) and Kashim Shettima (Borno) – gave the advice in a joint statement.

The statement was released through their spokesmen, including Ahmad Sajoh for Nyako, Abdullahi Bego for Gaidam and Isa Gusau for Shettima.

The governors said: “On the issue of extension of State of Emergency, it is our considered view that there is absolutely no reason to even contemplate an extension of the State of Emergency in any of the three states.

“It must be noted that a counter insurgency strategy that lasted one year without achieving the desired result requires a redefinition rather than extension.

“The Federal Government should always remember that it has the obligation of protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians in all parts of the country without necessarily putting them under any special condition.

“It has the option of putting a security structure in place that can continue and intensify ongoing counter insurgency operations without an extension of emergency rule.”

They said there had been insurgency in Niger Delta with Joint Military Task Force (JTF) deployed in the region without a state of emergency in place.

They added: “After all, we had the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in place in some of States with full military activities prior to the declaration of emergency.

“We have for many years, also have in place similar JTF in the Niger Delta to combat militancy and kidnapping, we have had same in the southeast to fight armed robbery, we have a Special Task Force in Plateau State combating the crisis in parts of the State without necessarily putting them under emergency rule.

“Besides, the Nigerian Army has in 2013 created new divisions and brigades in Borno State as permanent military establishments.”

They expressed confidence that if the military sustained its present level of engagement against Boko Haram, the insurgency will be overcome.

The statement said: “We hold that with continued motivation, continued and intensified deployment of military resources, the crisis will be overcome.”

The governors, however, pledged to assist security agencies to restore lasting peace to the three states.

They said: “We call on citizens in our respective states and other Nigerians to continue to intensify prayers for the return of peace.

“We call on our security agencies to remain resolute and patriotic. We salute the sacrifices of fallen heroes among them and among our civilians who died in the crisis.

“We are all very committed and determined to continue to work with security agencies and all other stakeholders in our committed search for lasting peace in our three states.”

The governors warned INEC against hiding under the guise of insurgency to shelve elections in 2015.

They said the commission should take a cue from Afghanistan which conducted a successful poll in spite of threats from the Taliban.

They said: “Afghanistan and its good people were celebrated worldwide for liberating themselves from the scourge of fear and thereby sending a strong signal that no amount of threat would deny them from choosing their leaders through democratic processes. This is the kind of courage expected of genuine patriots.

“Our Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should please learn from the landmark election that took place in Afghanistan at the weekend during which election officials took the bold step of going on to conduct election in spite of threats by the Taliban to send the country into extinction if the elections were held.

“The Central Government in Afghanistan provided adequate security for the conduct of the poles. It was also reported that there was a 53 percent voter turn-out during the elections and it went on peacefully in most places.

“We all know that the unfortunate insurgency affecting this country has a similar attribute to the Taliban doctrine in Afghanistan even though ours is now assuming a very complicated character.

“The INEC should, as a matter of counter insurgency approach, ensure that no part of Nigeria is excluded from the 2015 elections on account threats.

“Suspending elections on account of threats by insurgents and other sundry social miscreants would amount to succumbing to their doctrine and conceding victory on the part of Nigeria.”

The governors said if INEC opted to shelve or postpone the 2015 poll in the three states, the Boko Haram insurgents will be emboldened to infiltrate other 33 states to scuttle the next general elections.

The statement said: “Should INEC go ahead with its initially considered exclusion of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States from the 2015 elections, all criminal gangs need to do, is to extend the attacks to other parts of Nigeria and have more places excluded from future elections. “This will then imply that crime and criminality will be victorious in suspending constitutional democracy in Nigeria.”

Governors Nyako, other oppose emergency rule extension