Following President Goodluck Jonathan’s Tuesday request to extend the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, the senate has kicked off processes of the extension.
Requiring detailed information from all relevant agencies, the senators in the upper legislative council on Wednesday, unanimously resolved to summon the Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau (rtd); Police Affairs Minister, Abbah Moro; National Security Adviser; Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd); Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and Service Chiefs to brief the senate in a closed session on Thursday.
Sentator Victor Ndoma-Egba, Moved the motion, urging his colleagues to step down the item from the order paper till next legislative session.
He supported his request by reminding the other lawmakers that there is a need to circulate the gazette containing information about the action before it can be debated. He also said it is the tradition of the senate to appraise and access, the performance of the state of emergency before it can be debated.
In his own comment, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, said the motion requires the highest level of seriousness since it is the issue of national security.
He added that it is crucial for the senate to have all the facts available about the efficiency of the 12-month state of emergency that lapsed on Wednesday in order to make sound decision about sanctioning an extension.
