• Seeks National Assembly support for full state of emergency
Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, Thursday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a full scale of state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
Clark, who is a delegate at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja, also urged the presidency to appoint military administrators for the three troubled states in the bid to curb the activities of the Boko Haram sects in the North-east region.
Clark in a speech read by Dr. Caro Ojougho, said: “The time to act is now Mr. President: Declare an extension of the state of emergency in the frontline states on full scale in exercise of your constituted powers as it was proclaimed in the case of Plateau and Ekiti States.
“There is nothing like partial declaration of a state of emergency in the 1999 Constitution; what section 305(c) of the 1999 Constitution contemplates is the recourse to “…extraordinary measures to restore peace and security” where there is “breakdown of public order and public safety.
“This in effect means that all democratic institutions should be suspended to permit the military exercise full control until peace and order returns. Securing and safeguarding the lives of the citizens of Nigeria is a more sacred duty than considerations of political expediency at this point of our national life.
“I wish to further appeal to the leadership and members of the National Assembly to give their support and pass a resolution approving the proclamation of extension of state of emergency in the frontline states by the president in the interest of peace, security, national stability, cohesion and unity.”
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the elder statesman while alleging that the state governors of the affected states are playing deadly politics with lives of innocent citizens, said: “Nigerians can no longer tolerate this impunity and recalcitrance. This nonsense must stop now.”
Clark, who urged the president to shun all forms of “blackmail, harassment and intimidation,” described the recent abduction of over 200 secondary school girls as unacceptable.
To this extent, he urged members of the National Assembly to put sentiment aside and declare full scale emergency rule in the three states by sacking all the democratic institutions in the affected states, saying that there is nothing like partial state of emergency.
Source: Thisday
