President Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday declared an indefinite quasi-state
of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States and ordered the Chief of
Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, to deploy more troops in the
states to maintain law and order and bring to an end the impunity of
insurgents and terrorists.
Jonathan disclosed this in a nationwide live broadcast in which he also
directed Ibrahim to use the entire arsenal at his disposal to arrest
and detain suspected terrorists, take over any suspicious building and
detain persons suspected to be in possession of arms.
The details of the proclamation, which the president said would be
transmitted to the National Assembly in accordance with the provisions
of the constitution, however, did not provide for the removal of the
governors and other elected officials of the affected states who will
continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities under
emergency rule.
Jonathan’s declaration of emergency immediately got the backing of
Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam; the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC),
former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro
and Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Festus Keyamo.
One of the affected governors, Alhaji Kashim Shettima of Borno State
who was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja Tuesday afternoon to meet with
the president, said he would not be cowed by the challenges in the
state.
His counterpart from Adamawa, Alhaji Murtala Nyako, was also at the villa Tuesday evening to confer with the president.
Invoking the powers conferred on him by Section 305(1) of the 1999
Constitution, Jonathan insisted that it had become necessary to take
this extraordinary measure, which will run side by side the ongoing
efforts at dialogue and persuasion.
Jonathan, who stated that this measure had become necessary because
terrorists and insurgents had constituted themselves into threats to the
sovereignty of the country and thereby declared war against it, added
that as a responsible government, he would not tolerate these actions.
Alluding to the “protracted security challenges in some parts of the
country, particularly in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Kano,
Plateau and most recently Bayelsa, Taraba, Benue and Nasarawa States,”
the president specifically condemned the killing of security operatives
by the Ombatse cultists in Nasarawa State,” adding, “No effort or
expense will be spared in identifying and bringing to justice all those
who had a hand in the killing of the operatives.”
He said: “Already, some northern parts of Borno State have been taken
over by groups whose allegiance is to different flags and ideologies.
“These terrorists and insurgents seem determined to establish control
and authority over parts of our beloved nation and to progressively
overwhelm the rest of the country. In many places, they have destroyed
the Nigerian flag and other symbols of state authority and in their
place, hoisted strange flags suggesting the exercise of alternative
sovereignty.
“They have attacked government buildings and facilities. They have
murdered innocent citizens and state officials. They have set houses
ablaze, and taken women and children as hostages.”
The president said the actions amounted to a declaration of war and a
deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the Nigerian state and
threaten her territorial integrity, “which his administration as a
responsible government will not tolerate.”
He admonished the political class, including the three governors, whose
states were affected by the proclamation, to cooperate with security
agencies, adding that those directly or indirectly collaborating with
terrorists and insurgents to unleash terror will be fished out and dealt
with.
The president observed that the administration had previously
approached the Boko Haram insurgency through a multi-tracked approach
through actions, which included persuasion, dialogue and widespread
consultations with the political, religious and community leaders in the
affected states.
“We exercised restraint to allow for all efforts by both state
governors and well-meaning Nigerians to stop the repeated cases of
mindless violence.
“Yet the insurgents and terrorists seek to prevent government from
fulfilling its constitutional obligations to the people as they pursue
their fanatical agenda of mayhem, mass murder, division and separatism.
“While the efforts at persuasion and dialogue will continue, let me
reiterate that we have a sacred duty to ensure the security and
well-being of all our people and protect the sovereign integrity of our
country.
“Therefore, we shall, on no account, shy away from doing whatever
becomes necessary to provide the fullest possible security for the
citizens of this country in any part of the country they choose to
reside.
“We have a duty to stand firm against those who threaten the sovereign
integrity of the Nigerian state. Our will is strong, because our faith
lies in the indivisibility of Nigeria,” he said.
He urged the political leadership in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States to
cooperate fully with the armed forces and police to ensure that the
exercise succeeds.
“We call on the citizenry to cooperate with our security agencies to
ensure a return to normalcy within the shortest possible time.
“I am again approaching our neighbouring countries, through diplomatic
channels, as done in the recent past, for their cooperation in
apprehending any terrorist elements that may escape across the border.
“Nigerians are peace-loving people; these sad events perpetrated by
those who do not wish our nation well have not changed the essential
character of our people,” he stated.
In line with the president’s directive, THISDAY learnt that 10 armoured
personnel carriers and about 100 truckloads of soldiers entered Borno
and Yobe States Tuesday.
Supporting the declaration of the emergency rule in his state and two
others, the Yobe State governor welcomed the decision since it was
aimed at bringing peace, which has eluded the state for years.
Gaidam said the reasons for the president's action was clear and could not be wished away.
The governor in a statement by his Special Adviser on Press Affairs and
Information, Abdullahi Bego, said: "Over the past few years, the
problems of insurgency and criminality in Yobe State and other parts of
the north have led to many deaths and injuries and caused untold
hardship to millions of innocent people. The Yobe State Government,
under His Excellency, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, has done and continues to
do everything within its power to ensure peace and security and support
the security agencies in their task of protecting lives and property.
"As everyone knows, there is no alternative to peace. The Yobe State
Government therefore agrees with Mr. President on the need to take more
effective measures to address the problem of insecurity in the country.
The good people of Yobe State should note, however, that the
proclamation of a state of emergency by Mr. President does not affect
the political structures in the state."
The governor urged the people to continue with their usual support to
and cooperation with security agents to fast track the resolution of the
security crisis in the state.
On its part, the PDP said the president’s decision was aimed at restoring stability in the affected states.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, on the
state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, PDP said: “The
PDP supports the president on all actions that will restore stability,
peace and progress in the body polity. And we commend him for showing
effective leadership. You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs.
“We are 100 percent behind the president’s action and we call on all
responsible citizens to rally round the security officials of the nation
at this trying time. With President Jonathan, Nigeria will overcome our
security challenges.”
The CPC also threw its weight behind the president, saying he was justified in taking the action.
The party's National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, who
reacted to the president's speech in a telephone interview with THISDAY,
said the dire nature of the security situation in the affected states
might have warranted the measure.
"Yes, the president has full view of things more than anyone does by
virtue of his privileged position. He is empowered by the Nigerian
constitution to declare a state of emergency in these states. The fact
that the political structures have not been dismantled makes it
different from what one of his predecessors did.
"The situation in these states is dire and it behoves all of us as
criticizes to rally round the president and ensure that peace is
restored to the region. We hope this latest action will bring the
elusive peace, " the party said.
In his reaction, Obanikoro, who is now Chairman, Industrial Training
Fund (ITF), commended the president for the declaration of emergency
rule in the three states, saying his action was right politically,
morally and religiously.
He said the action was long overdue, adding that the president has not
only acted in good faith, but has taken a patriotic step that would go a
long way in the political history of the country in the quest for
lasting peace in the north.
“Thank God the president has done the right thing politically, morally
and religiously. Thousands of innocent lives have been lost unjustly as a
result of the madness and recklessness of a few disgruntled elements.
They have negatively impacted and eroded our values, our way of life and
the integrity of our country,” he said.
On his part, Keyamo said: “The declaration of a state of emergency by
President Goodluck Jonathan in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States as a
result of months of ceaseless bloodshed and carnage by insurgents is a
step that has long been overdue.
“The bloodletting in these states left the president with no other
option but to take this extraordinary step. This step must be
appreciated in the light of the refusal of the insurgents to even enter
into dialogue with the federal government.
