After over two hours closed door session, the Senate emerged to announce its inability to conclude debate on President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for further extension of emergency rule in three North East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
Debate on the Presidential request started on Tuesday with most northern Senators stoutly opposed to any form of extension of State of Emergency in the states already under emergency rule.
The upper chamber however resolved to continue the discussion on the controversial request on Thursday.
The lawmakers also resolved to invite the Service Chiefs to appear before the Senate and be part of the discussion.
Apart from the invitation of Service Chiefs, the Senate mandated the Senate President, David Mark, to contact governors of the affected states for more information and for their input.
After the closed door session Mark announced that “the Senate in executive session discussed the letter from Mr. President on the extension of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. We had a very robust and detailed discussion and we will continue the discussion tomorrow (Thursday).”
The Senate President asked whether what he said was a true reflection of what transpired in the Executive Session.
The Senator answered in the affirmative.
Mark also said “the Senate resolved that we will invite the Service Chiefs to appear before the Senate and be part of our discussion tomorrow (Thursday).”
He promptly adjourned plenary till Thursday for the continuation of discussion on the Presidential request.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, threw more light on the closed door session.
Abaribe said the Senate mandated Mark to contact the governors of the affected states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe for more information on the state of emergency.
Abaribe noted that the Senate met in another closed door session to consider the request of President Jonathan for further extension of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
He noted that “the discussion was very frank, robust and sometimes very acrimonious.”
He said the governors of the affected states would be contacted by the Senate President for more information.
