By Nnabueze Callista Adaobi.
President Goodluck Jonathan, on the 14th May, 2013 declare state of emergency on three states in the North Nigeria; Bornu, Yobe and Adamawa.
One may wish to know, what state of emergency is all about. According to the Encyclopedia, ‘a state of emergency is a governmental declaration which usually suspends a few normal functions of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial powers, and alert citizen’.
Terrorism, anarchy or any form of violence has never done well to any country, since the consequences are loss of lives and properties. Democracy has been misconstrued for a period of time where the freedom of expression is abused. “If there is order of liberty, it cannot be order of license”; so said, a thinker.
The Boko Haram sect has undermined and threatened the sovereignty of Nigeria longer than should be tolerated. To refresh our minds a little; we were all witness to the bombing of UN building on 26th of August, 2011 in Abuja where many nationals lost their lives. This also has directly affected the foreign investment and capital inflow to the country.
The Madalla bomb blast of St Theresa Catholic Church on 25th December, 2011 in Niger State, where many Nigerians were sent to their untimely graves, is another case one can point to.
The bombing of the Nigerian Police headquarters in Abuja on June 2011, not to talk of many security personnels which the nation has spent hard earned tax payers’ monies to train were gruesomely murdered by this sect.
With all these threats to security and destruction, the President still maintained human face to consider amnesty for the Sect, whom any reasonable person would expect should grab the opportunity, yet they rebuffed the offer. They stated that they were not doing any wrong to be considered for amnesty.
It should be stated that, at this point, President Goodluck Jonathan was compelled to declare the state of emergency. It is necessary to state clearly that state of emergency declared against these states where the insurgents appeared to have taken over; was long awaited. Whether President Goodluck Jonathan consulted widely or not, the section 305 sub sections 1 and 3 of the 1999 constitution as amended has justified the declaration.
These sub sections stated inter alia “subject to the provision of this constitution, the President may by instrument published in the official gazette of the government of the Federation issued a proclamation of a state of emergency in the Federation or any part thereof, and the President shall have power to issue the proclamation of state of emergency only when; (a) the Federation is at war, (b) the Federation is in imminent danger of invasion or involvement in a state of war, (c) there is actual breakdown of public order and safety in the Federation…”
The sect in the affected states have torn the Nigerian Flag and hoisted their own. They have gone in groups to attack military barracks and on countless occasion, policemen and their barracks became the target. Many Nigerians living in those areas within this period of insurgency have relocated to different cities while others have been displaced of their livelihood. Government has responsibility to protect lives and property. In fact, non declaration of the state of emergency earlier than when he did, has made many to think that President Goodluck Jonathan was over-pampering the idiosyncrasies of this sect unjustifiably.
The Military on whose shoulder the emergency rule rests may need to be told to execute the project decisively; by observing strictly, their rules of engagement. No stone should be left on unturned, and every strategy should be employed to bring to an end the loss of lives and properties of innocent and law abiding citizens.
The commendations of the President on state of emergency have transcended the political, ethnical and religious barriers as both opposition party members and those of the ruling party are solidly behind the President. A prominent social activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana applauded the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan on the proclamation of state of emergency in the three states. He added that the President has complied with the Nigerian Constitution, challenging that anybody who opposes the President’s action was not being serious about restoring normalcy in the areas.
Religious leaders, both Muslims and Christians and indeed, all tribes have expressed strong support for the President that he has taken a right step.
On the other hand, Governors of the Federation should put effective surveillance and security measures up in their respective states. President Jonathan should not hesitate to extend the emergency rule to any other State that attempts to breech the peace of the nation, as the bulk ends on his table. Even as at now the ugly incidences in Nasarawa, Kano and Bayelse suggest that same measure should be meted on the insurgents and militants in those other states. Nobody should be allowed to take the Nigerian state for a ride; it is our country and we have no other place than Nigeria.
Nnabueze Callista Adaobi is an Information Officer serving with National Press Centre, Abuja.
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