Jonathan writes senate on emergency rule

President Goodluck Jonathan has officially requested the approval of the senate for an extension of the state of emergency first declared in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states on May 14, 2013.

On Monday, Mohammed Adoke, the minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation, had announced the intention of the federal government to extend the emergency rule in the troubled northeastern states.

On the floor of the senate on Tuesday, David Mark, the senate president, read out a letter from the president requesting an approval for the extension.

“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 in a letter dated May, 21 2014,” the president’s letter read.

“By virtue of provisions of section 305 subsection 6(c) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the proclamation aforementioned 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.”

Jonathan argued that it was important for the emergency rule to be extended in the northeast because the security challenges that necessitated the initial proclamation were 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,” he said.

“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 to distinguished senate president to the usual kind expeditious consideration of the above request by the senate of the federal republic of Nigeria.”