The Senate had on Tuesday, in a unanimous decision approved President Goodluck Jonathan’s request on the declaration of state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
Senate President, David Mark, said the approval followed “an extensive discussion” in a closed session with 100 senators in attendance.
He noted that the chamber moved that all democratic structures be retained while the Federal Government ensures that it will fully handle the operations of the army.
“We would like to support the Federal Government in this proclamation of the state of emergency in the three states.” he said.
“We also would like to remind the president that the Federal Government must fund the operations there properly and adequately.”
“As the operation is going on, relief and all medical materials should be as quickly as possible, moved to the area so that the people can benefit from government’s presence.”
“We want to emphasise very emphatically that all the democratic structures must be left in place and must be allowed to operate fully and actively.”
“They must also be involved in all the efforts that the Federal Government is putting up to bring this ugly situation to an end.”
Mark said that the Armed Forces must also be instructed to ensure that they operated within the ambits of the law.
“We also would like to emphasise that the Armed Forces are issued a proper code of conduct, where they are humane and benevolent and make sure that all citizens are treated with utmost respect,” he said.
Mark urged the amnesty committee to intensify efforts towards bringing the crisis situation to an end, explaining that government adopted the emergency rule option as a last resort.
He said: “We are conscious of the fact that there was lawlessness, there was anarchy and mayhem in most of the places that are involved in the declaration of state of emergency.
“We appreciate the fact that government must take every possible step to bring this to an end as quickly as possible and with minimal loss of lives and materials.”
The Senate president expressed concern that in some of the local government areas, the insurgents were “flying their own flag, collecting taxes and running a parallel and illegal government.”
Mark also urged other states not involved in the operation to cooperate with the government in order to bring the situation to an end.
Also briefing newsmen after the plenary, the Senate spokesman, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, said that senators in the closed session decided to put aside party differences and took “a decision that was in the best interest of the nation.
“In our closed session, we spoke frankly with one other and we all agreed that the interest of Nigeria comes before any political leaning.
“This informed the unanimous vote of the Senators.”
Abaribe explained that the Senate adopted the voice vote method to protect some senators from suffering any harm by uninformed members of the public.
On funding arrangement for the military operations, Abaribe gave the assurance that the Senate would give prompt approval to any request for additional funding of the military operations.
Meanwhile, members of the House of Representatives also on Tuesday passed a resolution endorsing the May 14 state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan.
During the session, the members deliberated on the Gazetted copy of the proclamation of the state of emergency sent to the House by Jonathan.
The Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, who read the proclamation on the floor of the House, said that the resolution was in line with the 1999 Constitution as amended.
According to Tambuwal, the constitution specified that two-third attendance of members was required to approve the proclamation.
About 253 members were in attendance at the executive session
The speaker said that the House considered the approval clause by clause with some amendments.
According to one of the amendments, the President shall transmit proclamation of emergency rule to the National Assembly after three days of the proclamation.
Tambuwal promised that the House would give total support to the security operatives, but cautioned them to respect law abiding Nigerians.
He urged the insurgents to accept the hand of goodwill extended to them by the Federal government.
The House also constituted a six-man conference committee to work with the Senate to harmonise the proclamation.
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