The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) has kicked against the purported plan to impose a state of emergency in any of the region’s crisis-riddled states.
In the past few weeks, Borno, Yobe and a few northern states have witnessed resurgence in deadly violence which heightened speculations that President Goodluck Jonathan, who cut short a foreign trip to tackle the insecurity challenge, might declare a state of emergency in some of the troubled states.
Confirming that the idea is being mooted, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Saturday said, “The Federal Government is studying the situations in the affected states and would take decisions that would be in the overall interest of the security of not just the people of the states affected but also of the country. Declaration of state of emergency is a serious thing that should not be speculated about.”
But in apparent reaction to the move, the NEF said it was wrongheaded and instead advised the Federal Government to follow through with the plan to grant amnesty to Boko Haram, adding that ‘it can still work.’
The spokesman of NEF, Dr. Paul Unongo, said, “Government did not declare a state of emergency in the states in Niger Delta. General amnesty was declared and those who wanted to take advantage of it were asked to come out and lay down their arms and get some booties.
“Anybody calling for the declaration of a state of emergency in the North will not be able to justify it. Amnesty has worked in Nigeria. It can still work” he said.
Dis old men r jst sayin tinx 4 deir own selfish interest. Assumin sm of deir family members were affected during dis insurgence dey would ve beg 4 state of emergency b4 nw.
All this northern elders are the boko haram we are talking about and our leader is so weak to the extent that he dont know wat to do. Shame on the leaders of Nigeria, shame on jonathan, shame on the northern elders.
Its surprising how people react to proposed actions of the Jonathan administration, yet at every juncture they criticize the govt. Those who don’t want a state of emergency declared in their state should call their sons to order. Come to think of it, what really are the northern governors doing to help the situation? the fact that they and the so called elders have not done anything save blame Jonathan for their woes calls for concern. They are yet to tell us what’s on their mind.
enybody talking of amnesty 2 boko-haram is making a mistake,do u know how meny pple dey ‘ve killed,?,wat of perents of dose pples and dere property dat ‘ve being dameged by does idiot.?
Dis state of emerrgency is i hv been expecting d mr president 2 hv declear in d som of d northern state lik borno jos nd som odas lik dat.Amnesty 4 boko haram on which platform d niger delta guy deserve it nd dat was y it was gven 2 dem tel me y should boko haram b granted? Sudan of sokoto Buhari nd northern elders r aware of dis boko haram let dem arrested,let me tel u d more northernes has save enough oils nd money dat even if nigeria broke up 2day dey can stil cope up,d #1.26trn mr president gv dem in search of oil in dia place whr is it or d oil.stop asking dem 2 support u wen d time coms dey wil com 4 u.
Dis state of emerrgency is wat i hv been expecting d mr president 2 hv declear in d som of d northern state lik borno jos nd som odas lik dat.Amnesty 4 boko haram on which platform d niger delta guy deserve it nd dat was y it was gven 2 dem tel me y should boko haram b granted? Sudan of sokoto Buhari nd northern elders r aware of dis boko haram let dem arrested,let me tel u d more northernes has save enough oils nd money dat even if nigeria broke up 2day dey can stil cope up,d #1.26trn mr president gv dem in search of oil in dia place whr is it or d oil.stop asking dem 2 support u wen d time coms dey wil com 4 u.