By ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, Abuja
Senate yesterday unanimously approved a resolution summoning the Minister of Defence, his colleague in the Police Affairs Ministry, the Chief of Defence Staff, National Security Adviser, the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police.
The service chiefs would appear before the Senate on Thursday.
The affected security chiefs and their bosses, according to the Senate, were being invited in connection with the request of President Goodluck Jonathan, seeking an extension of the state of emergency declared on three states in the north east about a year ago.
They security chiefs are also needed to explain the present situation in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe where the emergency rule was declared by Jonathan since May 2013.
Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) who was to move the motion for the extension of the emergency rule in the affected states, urged members to allow the item be stepped down on the day’s Order Paper till the next legislative day.
He hinged his reasons on the fact that the aspect of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) dealing with emergency rule declaration has not been gazetted for circulation in the upper chamber and the fact that the Senate had yet to review the success or otherwise of the one in place,
He said: “We must circulate the gazette before we can debate it. Secondly, it is the tradition of this senate that we appraise and access, the performance of the state of emergency before we debate.
“I, therefore, move that the distinguished Senate do invite the Chief of Army staff, the Chief of Naval staff, Chief of Air staff, and the Inspector General of police to brief this distinguish senate tomorrow in a close session to enable us to commence debate on the President request.”
Senator James Manager seconded the motion. Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, described the motion as “a very serious business which bothers on the security of a part of this country.”
