On Tuesday, May 14, 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan eventually mustered courage to declare a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, in an attempt to wield the big stick over the protracted security challenges in some parts of the north, triggered off by the activities of the deadly Boko Haram sect.
In a nationwide broadcast to announce the emergency rule in line with the power conferred on him by section 305 of the 1999 constitution as amended, the President noted that “The activities of insurgents and terrorists have been reprehensible, causing fear among our citizens and a near-breakdown of law and order in parts of the country, especially the North. We have taken robust steps to unravel and address the root causes of these crises, but it would appear that there is a systematic effort by insurgents and terrorists to destabilize the Nigerian state and test our collective resolve… They have attacked government buildings and facilities. They have murdered innocent citizens and state officials. They have set houses ablaze, and taken women and children as hostages. These actions amount to a declaration of war and a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the Nigerian state and threaten her territorial integrity. As a responsible government, we will not tolerate this.”
The number-one citizen, consequently, directed the Chief of Defence Staff to forthwith deploy additional troops to the affected states for more effective internal security operations, saying that “the troops and other security agencies involved in these operations have orders to take all necessary action, within the ambit of their rules of engagement, to put an end to the impunity of insurgents and terrorists.”
While many Nigerians see the action of the President as a welcome development, there are some who have condemned the move in very strong terms, arguing that it won’t in any way resolve the problem as, according to them, it was not the right step to have been taken by the Federal Government (FG).
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), in its usual characteristic manner was among the first to bang Jonathan with a sledge hammer for his pronouncement on the emergency rule. The party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisted that the emergency rule imposed by the President was a deliberate gambit to subvert constitutional democracy.
Noting that the declaration of state of emergency was meant to fail right from the onset, the erstwhile Lagos State Governor said: “The body language of the Jonathan-led administration leads any keen watcher of events with unmistakable conclusion of the existence of a surreptitious but barely disguised intention to muzzle the elected governments of these states for what is clearly a display of unpardonable mediocrity and diabolic partisanship geared towards 2015.” Tinubu’s position came just as the ACN spokesman, Lai Mohammed, in a statement on behalf of the party equally decried FG’s action, describing it as lacking in original thinking, while calling on the National Assembly to reject it.
However, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko feels it was unfair for people to unnecessarily crucify Jonathan for a courageous and laudable step he has taken in his bid to end the security challenges in the country. Imploring Nigerians to rally round Jonathan in this current effort towards checkmating the Boko Haram menace, the governor urged that those who have chosen to embark on the unwarranted politicization of the present national security challenges should not be listened to.
His words: “I am of the view that the efforts to bring an end to the security challenges in some states through the recently declared state of emergency should be lauded by all. For me, this is the time to rally round the president and jettison all forms of divisive and non-productive politicking. It is also the time to tell those who are disposed to feasting on the national security challenges that they are alone.”
Interestingly, ACN presidential candidate in the 2011 general election, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu sharply disagreed with the standpoint of his party on the emergency rule. Ribadu, a former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) hailed the action of the federal government, agreeing with Mimiko that it was a step in the right direction.
Cautioning that the military must respect the rights of individuals and communities and not allow their actions cause more problems to the nation, the ex-EFCC helmsman said: “Personally, I believe that any initiative in that direction is a good one. Federal government does have responsibility and they must work towards getting peace for the country. It is their responsibility. For now, all Nigerians must support our military. This is what happened in all nations when you are confronted with difficulties. People must come together and unite.”
I believe very strongly there is truly the need for all of us to come together to support the Federal Government in every commendable, brave and valiant step it takes to surmount the precarious security situation we find ourselves at the moment with the noxious activities of terrorists. The government had offered to grant amnesty to the insurgents (Boko Haram members). But the group clearly rejected the offer and the destruction of lives and property continued unabated. Do we expect the government to fold its arms and allow them to continue to have a field day?
I do not see how in the opinion of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), the emergency rule in just three states amount to a declaration of war against the north which has 19 states in all. I wonder what would have been said if the President had dismantled the entire governmental structures in the states affected, leaving them in the hands of sole administrators, as postulated by some prominent Nigerians.
Former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and National Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in charge of North Central, Yusuf Ayitogo, in separate interview noted while applauding the action of Jonathan that he should have gone further to disassemble the executive councils and legislative organs in the states concerned. In the thinking of the duo, the President appeared to be too lenient in allowing the Governors and other political office holders to remain and continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities.
Wabara for instance said: “I am solidly behind the President in his decision to declare state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. I salute his courage. It is indeed a welcome development that must be embraced by all and sundry. However, it should have been a total declaration. I was in office as Senate President when state of emergency was declared in Plateau State. It was a full imposition of the emergency rule, where a sole administrator was appointed to run the affairs of the state at that time. This will make it much more effective. As it is now, we cannot say exactly who is in charge in the states affected. Is it the governors or the military commandants?”
Michael Jegede, a media expert and public affairs commentators wrote in from Abuja 07065574368
