Military insists on state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe
By Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja On Nov 26, 2014
The Armed Forces yesterday insisted on the continuation of state of emergency in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
This was the highlight of about eight-hour executive session the Senate held with Service Chiefs in Abuja yesterday.
It was gathered that the military top brass who attended the meeting insisted that continuation of state of emergency in the states was the only way the country could win the war against Boko Haram insurgency.
Senate President David Mark said after the meeting that they discussed extensively with the military top brass.
The upper chamber, Mark said, noted the challenges and progress made by the Armed Forces in the fight against insurgency in the NorthEast.
"Let me say that it has been a very robust discussion ," Mark said.
He noted that the Senate planned to discuss the Thursday invasion of the National Assembly yesterday but could not because of the interaction with Service Chief. It will now be taken today.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnya Abaribe, said the Senate spent more than eight hours interacting with the Service Chiefs . the discussion he said was "very frank and very detailed."
The Senate spokesperson said that they were impressed with the responses they received from the Service Chiefs.
He said the military has shown that it is capable of dealing and winning the war against insurgency.
He assured that the Senate and indeed the National Assembly had resolved to assist the military to win the war on insurgency.
On the extension of state of emergency, he said that it was not discussed since it was not on the table.
He said, "We looked into what have been the constraints of the Nigeria military in dealing with the insurgency.
"We also looked into the budgetary provision for them and we looked into what has been done so far by the military in containing the insurgency.
"I can tell you that 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 question of the state of emergency was not what was on the table today and we are going to wait until it is brought to the floor of the Senate, then, we will discuss it.
"When the Senate takes the question of the State of Emergency, of course, you will be there because it would be discussed in the open plenary.
"I think what happens with the State of Emergency is there in the Constitution.
On the speculation of impeachment process against President Goodluck Jonathan, Abaribe refused to comment describing it all as "rumour."
Service Chiefs at the parley included Chief of Army Staff Lt.General Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu and Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) Ita Ekpenyong.
Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba and Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh did not attend.
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