When President Goodluck Jonathan declared a State of Emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, it was received with mixed reactions. While to some, it was not the answer, many applauded it describing the step as long overdue. Some thought differently however, questioning the appropriateness of its modalities. The controversy that came with the declaration appears not eager to end as each step of the way is laced with befuddling conundrums.
"Following recent development in the affected states, it has become necessary for government to take extra-ordinary measures to restore normalcy. After wide consultation and in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the provisions of Section 305, Sub-section One of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, I hereby declare a State-of-Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states."
With these words on state radio and television networks on Tuesday 14 May, 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a frontal attack and defence on the onslaught of the Boko Haram sect which has held the country especially the northern parts, in the jugular for a couple of years now.
The action was greeted with an array of reactions which ranged from outright condemnation through indignation, relief, outrage and applause.
However, none received the Federal Government's final stand against the onslaught of the Boko Haram sect with apathy. It was a culmination of years of untold bloodshed, wanton killing and destruction of lives and property and grave insecurity across the northern part of the country.
"It would appear that there is a systematic effort by insurgents and terrorists to destabilize the Nigerian state and test our collective resolve," President Jonathan further said.
This is not the first time Jonathan has implemented emergency measures. In December 2011, Jonathan declared a state of emergency over some limited local government areas in the states, after a church bombing blamed on Boko Haram killed 37 people, but he lifted it in July last year.
This new action, however, is more drastic and covers whole states.
A day before the declaration, the Nigeria Governors' Forum, issued a statement warning Jonathan against imposing emergency rule in response to the insurgency.
One of the provisions which attracted many reactions is the non-removal of political office holders from power by the Federal Government. While a lot of people applauded this, it also drew some knocks yet from other quarters.
"The details of this Proclamation will be transmitted to the National Assembly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. But in the meantime, let me make it clear that within the purview of this Proclamation, the Governors and other political office holders in the affected states will continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities," the President had said.
In a similar declaration during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Plateau and Ekiti states, political office holders starting from the governor were relieved of their duties while Sole Administrators, who were retired senior military officers, were appointed.
However, another dimension was introduced to the provision by the turn of events on Thursday when the National Assembly allegedly technically removed the political office holders from office.
The Senate and the House of Representatives formally blocked the governors of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states from having complete access to their states' funds.
The action by the two chambers of the National Assembly was upon the adoption of the conference report of the two chambers of the details of the state of emergency proclamation announced by President Jonathan penultimate Tuesday.
Under the arrangement agreed by the two chambers, the governors and elected council chairmen will also not be entitled to the funds for development in their respective states and local governments except for payment of salaries to workers, as the money will be channelled towards the maintenance of security men deployed to restore peace in the troubled states.
The governors are also expected to receive instructions on the day to day running of their states from the President. The conference report was adopted by the two houses yesterday without debate.
The report was adopted in the House following the presentation of the same report by Rep Aminu Shehu Shagari (PDP Sokoto) who stood in for the committee chairman, Sam Tsokwa.
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on Thursday accused President Jonathan of not telling the truth when he said the democratic structures in the three states where he declared a state of emergency would continue to function.
The party said the statement has turned out to be totally false as the President is indeed in control of the states.
The ACN National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the gazette published by the Federal Government on the declaration showed that the President has stripped the political office holders of their constitutional responsibilities, thereby reversing the assurance he gave in his speech on the declaration.
ACN warned that unless "this despotic tendency is checked, nothing prevents the President, in the name of the ongoing fight against Boko Haram, from extending this power grab to other states that catch his fancy."
An Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, also urged the Federal Government to look beyond declaration of state of emergency in tackling the security challenges facing the country.
It said holistic measure at resolving some other grey areas regarding the socio-economic segments of Nigerian public life was more imperative
The Director of MURIC, Prof. Is-haq Lakin Akintola, in Lagos on Thursday, said: "While the Network of Islamic organisations condemn terrorism and violence, we insist that military force alone cannot solve Nigeria's security problem. What Nigeria needs for enduring peace is good governance and transparency. We are of the opinion that the remaining 33 states of the federation have been under emergency for long."
National Mirror