Monday, May 27, 2013

Top newspaper report-Emergency rule won’t last six months –President


President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the State of Emergency declared in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states to check the deadly activities of Boko Haram might not last for six months as prescribed by the constitution.
Jonathan disclosed this at a meeting with the Secretary General of the United Nations, UN, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon.
This, according to him, is informed by the success so far recorded by troops deployed to the three states.
Also yesterday, Jonathan said his administration recorded great achievements in most sectors of the economy despite the security challenges in the country.
The President, who spoke through the Senate President, David Mark, at this year’s Special Inter-denominational Service to commemorate Democracy Day at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, noted that the various policies introduced by his administration had attracted foreign investors to the country while making progress in other areas of the economy.
At the meeting with Ki- Moon on the sideline of the Africa Union, AU, conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the President said the military operation had so far recorded the desired success while the rules of engagement had also been adhered to.
Jonathan noted that the operation had not recorded collateral civilian casualties, adding that government would do everything possible to ensure that the civilian population was not put through hardship.
He said: “The military intervention in the affected states is going on well. There is no human rights abuse and there is no collateral damage with regards to security of individuals.
“I am optimistic that with the level of success already being recorded, the emergency rule in the affected states may not last up to the six months stipulated by the constitution.”
The President noted that government’s decision to release women and children that were detained over the activities of Boko Haram members was in the spirit of the rules of engagement of the operation.
Earlier, Ki-Moon said terrorism had become a global phenomenon that must be confronted by the international community.

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