Elder statesman and former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. The demand came on the heels of the recent abduction of 110 students of Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State.
The incident saw the Yobe State Government and the military authorities trading blame as to whose responsibility it was to secure the schools and ward off any attack by the terrorists.
Clark, who made the demand yesterday at a media briefing in Abuja, said a “fresh and total” state of emergency had become necessary in these three states in view of the deteriorating security situation perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorists. He specifically demanded the suspension of the civilian administrations in the three states and the appointment of Sole Administrators who must be senior military officers to take charge of these wartorn territories.
Should Buhari heed the advice, a total state of emergency would not only lead to the suspension of Governors Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Ibrahim Shettima (Borno) and Muhammadu Jibrilla (Adamawa), but would also involve the suspension of the Houses of Assembly in these three states.
Clark, who expressed disappointment at the abduction of the schoolgirls, said it was unfortunate that Governor Geidam could not learn any lesson from the April 14, 2014 experience in which over 200 girls were abducted in a similar manner in Chibok, Borno State.
His words: “As a senior citizen and elder statesman in this country and like other Nigerians who have stake in the survival of this country, I do believe that the present security situation in the country where insurgents are still challenging the territorial integrity of Nigeria, bombing and killing innocent citizens, and the recent easy abduction of 110 Dapchi schoolgirls which has, again, attracted global attention can only be brought under control through a declaration of a state of emergency under section 305(3) of the 1999 constitution.
“Nigerians agreed in toto with President Muhammadu Buhari that the abduction of the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls is a national disaster. “It must be made clear that the war cannot be completely won with the civilian state government and military operating side by side.
There is too much distraction and too much politicking, accusation and counter accusations. Is it not disgraceful and irresponsible of the state government of Yobe to pass the buck on the military for withdrwing roadblocks earlier allegedly mounted by the military? Is it why he carelessly made a statement which he later apologised for?
Is that the excuse he will give to his people who have been abandoned by him and who physically attacked him and his convoy when he visited the community, because they have lost confidence in him?
“The people of Dapchi and Yobe indigenes know fully well that it was due to dereliction of duty on the part of their governor that led to the abduction of the girls, barely four years after the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls on April 14, 2014.”
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