Emmanuel Clement
The lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on the nation’s security and economy sectors.
He made this call on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Daily where he also faulted the President’s declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich Rivers State.
“Let the President forget about everything and concentrate on three things – security, welfare of citizens and economy,” he stated.
“His attention should go there as number one then he should create a state of emergency in those areas.”
Describing himself as a democrat, he said Tinubu’s declaration of emergency in rule in Rivers was surprising.
He said the President acted in a wrong move by that action on March 18 following the protracted political crisis in the state.
Senator Ndume stated that he expected the President to have gathered the political actors and resolve all lingering differences rather than the proclamation.
He also denied claims that the political actors ignored Tinubu’s directives prior to the emergency rule imposition.
“I feel that the President would have worked seriously on bringing them (and) solving the problem than (declaring a state of emergency). Call them, seat them down and say ‘go and sort your problem.
It will be recalled that President Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy Ngozi Odu; and all the members of the House of Assembly for six months in a nationwide broadcast
The president nominated Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state for the first six months.
According to the president he relied on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to make the proclamation. The section interprets a state of emergency as a situation of national danger, disaster or terrorist attacks in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control
