{"id":4037,"date":"2013-05-22T07:27:57","date_gmt":"2013-05-22T07:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigerian-newspapers\/senate-endorses-emergency-rule-in-borno-yobe-adamawa\/"},"modified":"2013-05-22T07:27:57","modified_gmt":"2013-05-22T07:27:57","slug":"senate-endorses-emergency-rule-in-borno-yobe-adamawa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/senate-endorses-emergency-rule-in-borno-yobe-adamawa\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate endorses emergency rule in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Senate yesterday unanimously endorsed the Presidents\u2019 proclamation of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.<\/p>\n

Though there was no debate by Senators, the deal to approve Dr. Goodluck Jonathan\u2019s contentious action in the three northeast states was sealed at a closed session of the upper chamber that lasted about one hour.<\/p>\n

Senate President David Mark announced conclusions and decisions reached in the closed session.<\/p>\n

After laying what could be called the background to the state of emergency, Mark announced that \u201cat the end of the day, we would like to support the Federal Government in this proclamation of state of emergency in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.\u201d<\/p>\n

The seeming tension in the Senate gallery evaporated immediately Mark declared the support of the upper chamber for the proclamation.<\/p>\n

He noted that the lawmakers were conscious of the fact that there was mayhem in the troubled states.<\/p>\n

The Senate President noted that 100 of the 109 senators approved the proclamation.<\/p>\n

He said the summary of their discussion was the fact that the democratic structures in the states would remain in place.<\/p>\n

Mark said: \u201cWe want to emphasise very emphatically that all the democratic structures must be left in place and must be allowed to operate fully and actively and they must also be involved in all the efforts that the Federal Government is putting up to bring this ugly situation to an end.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also would like to emphasise that the Armed Forces are issued a proper code of conduct where they are humane and benevolent and make sure that all citizens are treated with utmost respect so that they do not lose their respect as human beings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark said the Senate stressed the need to fund the operations adequately, and provide relief and all medical materials \u201cas quickly as possible\u201d.<\/p>\n

To the Boko Haram insurgents and \u201cterrorists\u201d, a plea was sent.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is still not too late to cooperate with the forces that are there in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe so that we can bring this to a logical conclusion as quickly as possible,\u201d Mark said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must emphasise that at the end of the day, a military solution is not the final solution to the problem on ground; it is to win the minds and hearts of the citizens in the states that are affected and indeed, in the whole country that we see a final solution to the problem as we see it today.<\/p>\n

Besides, he stressed the need for an enduring solution, saying: \u201cWe believe that when the whole military operation is over, that the Federal Government will ensure that development gets to these areas as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe implore the Federal Government to use the carrot and stick policy to ensure that this is brought to a logical conclusion as quickly as possible,\u201d Mark said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMark asked whether what he announced is the true reflection of what happened in the close session.<\/p>\n

There was a thunderous \u201cyes\u201d by Senators.<\/p>\n

The Senate President added that the Federal Government\u2019s measure was aimed at bringing normalcy to the affected states \u201cbecause the situation was completely out of control in some of the local governments where the insurgents and the terrorists hoisted their own flags, were collecting tax and were running a government as if they were not part and parcel of the country. That is totally unacceptable.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were a total of 100 senators seated today. So, we have only nine Senators who were out on essential duties.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur requirement to pass this is 72.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chairman, Senate Committee on information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, at a news conference, said the Senate adopted the voice vote method to approve the proclamation to protect some Senators from possible harm from some misinformed people.<\/p>\n

Abaribe noted the Senate rule empowered them to regulate their conduct as necessary.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cWe looked at the whole situation and we believe that we should protect some of our colleagues from any harm from some people who are misinformed.\u201d<\/p>\n

He noted that it was obvious to all Senators that \u201cwe should first have a corporate entity called Nigeria before any other consideration\u201d.<\/p>\n

Abaribe also said that the Senate had not received any request for additional funds for enforcement of the state of emergency.<\/p>\n

He said that if such a request was made, it would be considered.<\/p>\n

The leadership of the Senate, led Mark, entered the Chamber by 11.10 am.<\/p>\n

After initial pleasantries, Mark proceeded to say the prayer for the day\u2019s business to begin.<\/p>\n

Senator Victor Lar (Plateau South) moved for the adoption of the votes and proceedings May 16.<\/p>\n

He was seconded by Senator Atai Idoko (Kogi East).<\/p>\n

There was a single item on the Order Paper entitled \u201cMotion: State of the Nation\u201d slated against the name of the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba.<\/p>\n

Mark read a letter from Mr. President containing a gazetted copy of the state of emergency proclamation 2013 for necessary action by the Senate.<\/p>\n

The letter has two items-the declaration of state of emergency in three states, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa and the retention of the administrative structures in the states.<\/p>\n

President Goodluck Jonathan requested the Senate to accord the memo expeditious consideration.<\/p>\n

Ndoma-Egba moved that the Senate should go into a closed session to consider the presidential memo.<\/p>\n

He was supported by the Minority Leader, Senator George Akume.<\/p>\n

Visitors who swarmed the Senate gallery in their numbers were shut out by 11.36 for the commencement of closed session on emergency proclamation.<\/p>\n

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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. <\/a>A DisNaija.Com<\/a> network.<\/p>\n

Source: The Nation Newspaper<\/p>\n

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