Emergency rule: FG to decide on extension Wednesday

President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

The Federal Government may on Wednesday decide whether the emergency rule imposed on three northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe will be extended or not.

A reliable source at the Presidency told us that a decision on the matter might be taken during an enlarged meeting of the National Security Service, which will be attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, service and security chiefs, state governors and some ministers.

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom had tactically confirmed this on Thursday, when he said the issue could not be discussed at a meeting the President held with governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, since the affected governors were not in attendance.

"The governors of the states that are involved in emergency are not here. I believe the issue will be discussed when all the governors are around on Wednesday," Akpabio had said.

Jonathan had justified the declaration of the state of emergency in the affected states in a nationwide broadcast.

He said the declaration became imperative because the violence, despite various efforts by the government, which included persuasion, dialogue and consultation, had led to the death of many, including security operatives.

Meanwhile, when one of our correspondents contacted the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, to find out whether the military had forwarded a recommendation to the Presidency on the issue of extending the emergency rule or not, he urged Nigerians to await the decision of the political leadership on the issue.

He said, "I think they (Nigerians) should wait for the appropriate decision of the Presidency on the issue. They should wait for the political leadership to take the appropriate decision on the issue."

Reacting to reports that the emergency rule would end on Saturday (yesterday), another security source stated that it was not true that the emergency rule would expire on April 19, 2014.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said, "The April 19 date was being peddled by those pushing against the extension of the emergency rule in the North-East.

"Jonathan declared a state of emergency of six months duration in the three states on May 14, 2013. That initial six months expired on November 13, 2013. But a week ahead of the expiration, the Senate on November 7, 2013 approved Jonathan's request to extend the emergency rule for another six months.

"Jonathan had in a letter dated November 5, 2013 to both leaders of the National Assembly said the extension, if and when granted by the parliament, would take effect from November 12, 2013, meaning that if approved it will terminate on May 11, 2014."