As President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a State of Emergency in the troubled States of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa; Information Officers in Federal Information Resource Centre, Ado Ekiti went round the streets of Ado-Ekiti to get the views of the people on the action. Majority of those who responded lent credence to the action of Mr. President.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Laolu Omosilade said the declaration was long overdue. He however, said the number of states affected by the rule should have been more than three, judging by the series of attacks carried out by the terrorists in Kano, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe, Nasarawa and Benue States.
Comrade Laolu was also of the opinion that the emergency rule declared in the three states ought to be total by appointing sole administrators to run the affairs of the States in as much as the imbroglio had political colouration.
The Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Adetunji Orisalade expressed his support for the President's action describing it as proper.
While quoting section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution to back his words, he said that President Jonathan's move was in order. He condemned the evil acts of the Boko Haram insurgents which had resulted in breakdown of law and order in the Northern part of the country as security men were being killed. He said the President had used his discretion in line with the constitution, but this time, he preserved democratic structures and institutions as well as the lives and properties of the civilian population.
The leader of Business in the House, Hon. Churchill Adedipe also expressed satisfaction with the move of Dr. Jonathan, describing it as right step in the right direction.
He said the activity of Boko Haram is evil which should not be allowed to spread further, the implication of which can cause a total anarchy across the whole nation.
Also reacting, the State Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Jegede described the step taken by the Federal Government as a welcome development but cautioned that government should allow the emergency rule to stand the test of time as to bring the culprits to book.
He said that Nigeria is a federating unit which must be allowed to thrive no matter the forces behind its possible disintegration.
Speaking in the same vein, an artisan, Mr. Seun Olofin said the insurgence of the Boko Haram has caused untold hardship to people and the economy of the country, as some of the traders that travel from the Southern part of the country to the North, now find it difficult to do so because of the fear of the unknown.
The insurgency has also affected prices of goods from the Northern part of the country in which goods like onion, beans, wheat and millet are no longer readily available at cheap prices.
An elder statesman, Chief Deji Fasuan welcomed the action of the Federal Government, though he said it is belated. He said the action did not come as a surprise considering the degree of hostilities by the Boko Haram sect and the attendant effects on the lives and property of the citizens.
He enjoined all Nigerians to support the step taken by the government so as to put an end to insecurity in the country.
Reacting to the declaration, Professor Kunle Ajayi of the Faculty of Law, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti said by declaring state of emergency in the affected states, Mr. President had acted according to constitutional provisions by not hiding under the emergency rule to remove the elected governors and other officials of the three States as the constitution gives no room for the removal of elected officials under emergency rule as done in previous declarations.
By and large, the people living in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have been advised to give the military the necessary support and information so that Boko Haram elements can be dislodged in these areas to forestall the spread of their dastardly act to other of the Federation which eventually may lead to a revolution.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria