House approves extension of emergency rule

Abuja - The House of Representatives in Abuja on Thursday approved the request of President Goodluck Jonathan for the extension of state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe for another six months.
Jonathan requested for the extension in a letter to the House on May 13. The approval followed a three-hour meeting with the service chiefs and heads of security on the current state of emergency in the three states. Addressing a news conference, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, said the House voted unanimously for extension for the stability of the country. Zakari said the service chiefs had also assured them that the extension would further consolidate the gains of the past one year period of the rule. "We were given all the assurances by our service chiefs that they are on top of the situation’’, he said. Ezekiel Adaji (PDP-Benue), said the House had no option than to approve the President's request for the extension. "I think we have no option, we must accept that this is a war and I think we are winning, so let them consolidate’’, he said. "That is why we need this briefing, we have seen where there are loopholes and we have given them some recommendations. Abiodun Balogun (APC-Ogun), said after the briefing, the House discovered that there was need for the extension of the state of emergency in the three states. He said that it was agreed that the military must also justify the extension granted as the House would not grant another state of emergency after this. Nnenna Ukeje (PDP-Abia), said they approved the state of emergency to give the Nigerian army time to do the work they had signed to do. According to her, the House has shown, with the approval of the extension of emergency rule, the quest to end insurgency in the country. Parliament did a responsible thing today and that is to extend the state of emergency in the three states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno. "We hope that we will curb this insurgence and bring back the Chibok girls and hopefully, put an end to terrorism in Nigeria’’, she said. Pally Iraise (APC- Edo), said that any solution proffered to put an end to terrorism in Nigeria was welcome. "We have given them the extension that they seek; it is now for us to follow up and be sure that whatever needed to be done will be done within this extension. "In the next three to six months, we want to see an end to this menace of terrorism’’, she said. The emergency rule was extended for another six months, beginning from November 12, 2013 after same was approved by the National Assembly. - NAN

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