FG okays emergency rule extension in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

The Federal Government on Monday resolved
to extend the state of emergency declared in
Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States for the
third time.
The emergency rule was first declared in the
affected states on May 14, 2013 by President
Goodluck Jonathan over the continued
activities of members of the Boko Haram sect.
Since that first declaration of six months, the
emergency rule had been extended twice.
The third tranche of six-month emergency
rule expires on Thursday.
The decision to extend it for the third time
was taken at a meeting of the National
Defence Council presided over by Jonathan
on Monday.
THE PUNCH had reported exclusively earlier
on Monday that a decision on whether to
extend the emergency rule or not would be
taken at the meeting.
Attorney-General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Mr. Muhammed Adoke
(SAN), disclosed the council’s decision to
State House correspondents.
Adoke said having reviewed the emergency
rule, the council resolved that the government
should request the National Assembly to
extend the emergency rule.
When asked when the request would be sent
bearing in mind that an arm of the National
Assembly is currently on break, the minister
said it would be done immediately.
“The council reviewed the issue of the state
of emergency and the government will be
requesting the National Assembly to extend
the emergency rule. It (the communication)
will go in immediately,” he said.
The Council which is one of the federal
executive bodies established by Section 135
of the nation’s Constitution has the power to
advise the President on matters relating to
the defence of the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Nigeria.
Its members include the President who shall
be the chairman; the Vice President who shall
be the Deputy Chairman;Minister of Defence;
Chief of Defence Staff; Chief of Army Staff;
Chief of Naval Staff; Chief of Air Staff; and
such other members as the President may
appoint.
Those who attended the Monday meeting
included the CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex
Badeh; COAS, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah;
CNS, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; CAS, Air
Marshal Adesola Amosu; Inspector-General of
Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba; and the National
Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
Others were Secretary to the Government of
the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim; Minister
of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Guasu (retd.); and the
Minister of Interior, Mr. Aba Moro.
While declaring emergency rule in the three
states in 2013 in a nationwide broadcast,
Jonathan had invoked Section 305 (1) of the
1999 Constitution as amended.
He had announced that regardless of the
state of emergency imposed, the political
structures in the affected states would remain
intact.
Following continued violence in the state in
spite of the emergency rule, there were calls
for the sacking of the state governors to pave
way for the appointment of military
administrators.
The Presidency had however said it was
unconstitutional for the President to sack
state governors.