Teddy Oscar, Abuja
President Goodluck Jonathan has written to the National Assembly for an approval to extend the period for the proclamation of the state of emergency imposed in the northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
Following the insurgency by the terrorist group in Nigeria, espesially in the north, Jonathan got the approval of the National Assembly to declare a six-month period of state of emergency in the three troubled northern states.
The state of emergency in the three states was declared on May 14, 2013.
But Jonathan, on Wednesday, laddressed a letter to Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, speaker of the House, in which he requested for an extension of the state of emergency by a further period of six months with effect from November 12.
“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.
“By virtue of the provisions of Section 305(6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the proclamation aforementioned will elapse after a period of six months from the date of approval, except the period is extended by the National Assembly.
“As a result of the laudable efforts of our security agencies and the support of the citizens in the affected areas, we have achieved considerable successes in containing the activities of the terrorist elements. However, some security challenges still exist in a few parts.
“Consequently, it has become pertinent to request the approval of the House of Representatives for an extension of the state of emergency for a further period of six months, during which time it is expected that normalcy would have been fully restored.
“In view of the foregoing, I most respectfully request the House of Representatives to consider and approve by resolution the extension of the proclamation of the state of emergency by a further period of six months with effect from 12th November, 2013,” the letter read.
