Senate Endorses Jonathan’s Desire to Extend State of Emergency

The request of President Goodluck Jonathan to extend the current state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States was on Thursday granted by the Senate.

Also on Thursday, the Senate summoned all service chiefs to appear before it for a briefing on the current state of security in the country and the success or failure of the emergency rule since May when it was declared in the respective states. No date was given for their appearance.

 Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru was also summoned but no reason was given for the invitation.

Explaining its decision to grant the president’s request for emergency extension, the Senate said it saw the need to allot the Military more time to restore full and lasting peace to the three states, as well as continue with the commendable progress recorded in the three states.

At a plenary presided by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, the upper legislative chamber added that the extension was granted on the same terms and conditions as earlier approved and gazetted.