On Declaration Of A State Of Emergency In 3 States By Femi Falana
Following the break down of law and order in some parts of the country President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a state of emergency in three states to wit: Borno,Yobe and Adamawa. The declaration made pursuant to section 305 of the Constitution requires the approval of both houses of the National Assembly. While appealing for approval of the declaration the National Assembly should appropriate adequate funds for upgrading the security of the nation.In the face of incessant terrorist attacks, kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes the Federal Government ought to stop playing lip service to the security of life and property in the country. It is not sufficient to deploy more troops to the affected states if the terrorists and other nihilist groups have more sophisticated weapons than the Joint Task Force.
However, President Jonathan deserves commendation for acting within the ambit of the constitution. Unlike President Olusegun Obasanjo who illegally removed elected governors under the guise of a state of emergency President has not dissolved democratic structures in the affected states. That is in order because an elected governor can only be removed by impeachment, resignation or on ground of infirmity of body or mind and NOT through a state of emergency. For the avoidance of doubt the proviso to section 11 (4) of the constitution which empowers the National Assembly to take over the legislative powers of a state in case of emergency states that ” nothing in this section shall be construed as conferring on the National Assembly power to remove the Governor or the Deputy Governor of the State from office”.Having complied with the constitution with respect to the state of emergency in 3 states President Jonathan should henceforth demonstrate to Nigerians that the days of presidential impunity are gone for ever in the country.
Femi Falana SAN.
………SAHARA REPORTERS
JD:The President no longer has any excuses.all Nigerians are rallying round him now and i think he will now begin to see the benefits of being a firm but fair leader.He shouldn’t throw away this goodwill so soon and in the same vein begin to be firm on all those who want to put this country in confusion,no matter who such persons are(including his kinsmen.) .As he would have seen now Nigerians are not too interested in political bickering,all they want is peaceful coexistence
Uncle Jimi, you’re a renown communicator. Take my messages to Aso Rock. Let Jonathan know that God’s figurer has started war in midst of his enemies. He should hold his peace and watch his enemies distroy themselves.
Nigeria is a few steps away from hell. The heat and fire of hell are already at work. Blantant fools who refuse to accept truth will soon begin to drop for vutures and other carnibals in jungle. Every man who supports evil in Nigeria shall sure loose his head, and there shall be no peace to the wicked until we begin to take appropriates measures to do right.
Let nobody question me here. I will not entertain question anymore. Nigerians are big enough to give right answers to their confounded, big-for-nothing Nigeria.
This is actually commendable. But our whole security system still needs to be completely overhauled. Sooner or later, the emergency rule will be lifted and then what happens again! ln the first place, we should have nipped this situation in the bud if we had a function, effective and efficient security system in place. God help us.
Will the presence and power still with Governors not interfer will the millitry authorities? There might power tussle among d millitry an d governor