The Federal government, Sunday, debunked reports in the media (not Vanguard) that it plans to declare a state of emergency in five states of the federation owing to security challenges in the states.
In an interview with Sunday Vanguard, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said the federal government has not taken a firm decision on what to be done in those states where there is escalation of security challenges.
There were reports in the media that owing to the worsening security problems in Borno, Yobe, Nassarawa, Benue and Plateau states the Federal government plans to declare a state of emergency in those states.
But in an interview with Vanguard, Dr Abati said no such decision has been taken.
According to him, “no such decision has been taken and people should stop speculating. The federal government is studying the situations in the affected states and would take a decision that would be in the overall interest of the security of not just the people of the states affected by the country”.
Dr Abati said the clarification has become necessary because of the wide speculation in a section of the media which does not reflect government thinking at the moment.
……………VANGUARD
JD: We appreciate this clarification,but doesn’t Mr Abati think he should brief us as on what measures the Government will take to stem the crisis after the president cut short his trip to Namibia to attend to the crisis at hand.Surely he didn’t return home just to direct the security forces to do their job?
Huik