Senate fails to approve emergency rule

The Senate on Tuesday created uncertainty over the state of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

The upper chamber failed to approve President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for further extension of emergency rule in the affected states.

Senate President, David Mark, announced after over two hours closed door session that debate on Jonathan’s request will continue on Wednesday.

Mark said: The Senate in a closed session discussed the letter by the President for the extension of state of emergency. We had a very extensive debate on it and we will continue with the debate tomorrow (Wednesday). Is this a true reflection of what happened?”

The Senators chorused “yes.”

Jonathan had in a letter entitled: “Re: Extension of the period for the Proclamation of a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States,” and  dated 17th November, 2014 asked the Senate to endorse further extension of the period of emergency rule in the three states.

The letter reads in part, “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’s letter dated 21st May 2014.

“By virtue of the provisions of Section 305(6)© 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.

“It is important to state that despite concerted efforts by this administration to stem the tide of terrorism and insurgency in the affected states, the security challenges that necessitated the Proclamation are yet to abate.

“Consequently, it has become imperative to request the approval of the State for extension of the period for the State of Emergency for a further period of six months.

“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 further period of six months from the date of expiration of the current period.”

Before the Senate went into closed session to consider the letter, some Senators attempted to block even the consideration of the letter.

The Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, had moved that the Senate should resolve into Executive Session to consider the presidential request.

What followed was a deafening “nay” when Mark put the question.

Apparently taken aback, Mark explained that all he asked was the approval of the chamber to consider the presidential letter on extension of state of emergency.

He noted that saying that the letter should not be discussed should be out of the way since the Senate was bound to debate the letter to take a position whether to approve the request or withhold approval.

Mark noted that it was only during the consideration of the letter that Senators could make their contributions whether to endorse the request or not.

After his explanation which seemed to have calmed frayed nerves, Mark again put the question for the Senate to consider the letter.

The mood in the Senate slightly changed as the lawmakers gave their approval that the letter should be considered.