Yesterday, the letter by the president hoping to extend the state of emergency in three North-East states was read on the floor of the senate. However, unlike previous times when the request is granted express approval, this time the senate has decided to defer consideration of the request.
Instead, the upper house has summoned the Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau, National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan, Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to appear before it.
Although the request was listed for debate on the order paper, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, moved a motion that it be deferred till Thursday.
Ndoma-Egba said the Senate can only debate the proclamation of a state of emergency after it has been gazetted and copies of the gazette circulated to all Senators. He said the Senate would also require adequate briefing from the security agencies in camera on the progress of the ongoing emergency rule which has been in place since May last year, before it can proceed with the consideration.
He said: “It is the tradition of this Senate that we appraise and assess the performance of the state of emergency, before we debate any request for extension.
“So I will move that this Distinguished Senate do invite the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Inspector General of Police, to brief this Distinguished Senate tomorrow (today) in a close session to enable us to commence debate on the President’s request.”
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, described the motion as “a very serious business which bothers on the security of a part of this country” and as such, he said it was necessary for the senate to be “well informed of the situation on ground and the efficiency or the effectiveness of the state of emergency in the past 12 months to enable us take a proper decision.”
“I therefore appeal that in accordance with the motion moved by the Senate Leader, we should step it down till another legislative day.”
Senator James Manager, who seconded the motion said “it is important to invite the Service Chiefs but since they were under some authorities, I want to amend the motion as proposed by the Senate Leader by adding two very important persons. First the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Police Affairs,” Manager said.
By Segun Odeleye.
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