Extension of emergency rule undesirable – Conference

— Wants immunity removed

By Bode Olagoke
Abuja

The National Conference committee on national security yesterday lashed at President Goodluck Jonathan over  his request for another six months extension of the current state of emergency imposed on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, saying, “it is undesirable.”
The President had on Tuesday sent a request to the National Assembly for an extension of state of emergency imposed on the above mentioned  three states in the North east.

Addressing journalists yesterday at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), venue of the ongoing conference, the National security committee chairman and former Inspector General of Police, Mohammadu Gambo Jimeta (rtd), who spoke on behalf of his committee, said the state of emergency had outlived its usefulness, adding that it is no longer desirable.

He said: “It is not desirable in any state in the world. A reporter asked me yesterday why did Chief Awolowo’s Western government was put under emergency, why did Obasanjo declare emergency in Plateau? These are circumstances that happened. In the case of the Western region, I was alive and I knew what happened, there was a total breakdown of law and order, people were being burnt in their cars, houses and so on, but it was necessary for the federal government to step in and stop that and it did not last more than necessary.

“In this case”, he continued: “We have been under emergency rule for how long now? One year in three states affected, and there is no improvement. So we have to review the whole thing, reassess the whole thing, there is something more than just declaring emergency rule. If you declare an emergency rule in such disturbed states you should have enough resources to revamp the architecture of security in those states immediately and for a long time to come while you also bring the other states to consideration so that this thing don’t happen again.”

He also revealed that his committee  had recommended the removal of the immunity clause from the 1999 Nigerian constitutions so as to tackle the menace of impunity among political office holders in the country.
Jimeta identified immunity enjoyed by Nigerian politicians as the bane of corruption and the impunity of rulers which he said, gives rise to insecurity in the country.

“We have recommended that immunity should be removed from our statute books. No citizen of this country should be above the law.
“The issue of national security is all embracing and torches on everybody’s life. We decided to take the central issues. Good governance, corruption, impunity of rulers and the way and manner our laws are being made, which is totally abnormal from what happens in a civilized society, that is why there is a grave revolt,” he said.

He disclosed that the panel addressed bad leadership, corruption, deliberate neglect and total insensitivity to the laws of the land among others and proffered appropriate recommendations to deal with the issues.
“Having reviewed all the areas and the pitfalls we have gone through, we have made recommendations on the various subjects that are necessary to prop up good life for the citizens of Nigeria.

“But we limited discussions to the national security architecture. Looking at what the state has put on the ground to ensure that Nigerians can go to bed and sleep with both eyes closed, to ensure that Nigerians can do their business without let or hindrance, to ensure unlimited access to the remedy of the law courts and other arbitrating bodies.”