Senate still undecided on emergency rule

The Nigerian senate on Wednesday refrained from granting or rejecting President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for a third extension of the state of emergency declared in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa States.

After a second closed-door session on the matter, the upper chamber opted to invite service chiefs on Thursday before taking a decision.

“We had a very robust and detailed discussion and we will continue the discussion tomorrow,” David Mark, the senate president, said after the session.

“It is just a true reflection of what transpired in the closed-door session. We have invited the service chiefs to be part of this discussion tomorrow, which is also a true reflection of what we decided.”

Ahmad Lawal, who represents, Yobe North, disclosed that senat‎ors were opposed to the extension of state of emergency in the northeast because the insurgency had not abated despite 18 months of emergency rule in the region.

“I speak as a senator representing Yobe North. We are still discussing the request of Mr President for the extension of the state of emergency‎ in the northeast. Many of us are opposed to it. I think we should explore other avenues and the discussions continue tomorrow,” he said.

“The truth is,  we had accepted in the past to grant an extension of the state of emergency‎, but the extension and operations did not work for us after 18 months. And we believe there is no point in going through the same process and system.

“I believe we can do without the state of emergency in the northeast, but we have to get our tactics and strategies right. We have not succeeded in the last 18 months and I am sure that this time around, it will not make any difference.”

Lawal also dismissed reports of financial inducement of senators by the president for them to grant his request.