Borno State government has said that it will support any rational decision taken by the Federal Government with the ultimate aim of having the abducted schoolgirls safely back to their parents.
The Special Assistant, Media, to Borno State Governor, Isa Gusau, spoke as a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Audu Ogbe, opposed move by Northern senators to reject President Goodluck Jonathan’s plan to extend the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
The state government told our correspondent on Thursday that it was in support of any decision that would ensure the release of the girls who were abducted over 30 days ago.
The Federal Government had on Wednesday ruled out any possibility of freeing Boko Haram prisoners in exchange for the release of over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Islamic sect.
Ogbe called for total declaration of emergency rule in the affected states with all democratic institutions suspended to ensure adequate security of lives and property.
In a text message sent to Saturday PUNCH on the move to reject the state of emergency extension, the former PDP chairman said, “My view is total declaration of state of emergency with democratic structures suspended to allow full military operations to restore peace in the affected states.”
In a similar manner, a resident of Maiduguri, Borno State, who simply identified himself as Gadzama, said anyone opposing the extension of the emergency rule in the state was an enemy of the people.
He said that residents of the state had been experiencing a bit of peace since the emergency rule started.
He said, “At present, we are moving freely in Maiduguri and feel somehow secure because of the presence of security operatives. There is no much problem for now. Even as I am talking to you, I am driving with my children in the car, who I have just taken from school. Since the last bomb blast, nothing like that has ever happened again due to the emergency rule.
“The security is tight; there are security checkpoints, at least within the city. It is outside the city now that there is still no security. We are moving freely here; there is no problem.
“Anyone who says there should be no extension of the emergency rule is a threat to the people. In fact, that kind of person should even be arrested. All the people saying there should be no extension are just talking rubbish because they are not living here.
“Personally, as I am talking to you, if I were the President, I would remove the governor totally and put a soldier there. What we are passing through is a terrible situation.”
Gadzama also said it would be a right step in the right direction if the emergency rule in the state was extended.
He added, “The people who do not want the extension should even be arrested. How can you say there should be no extension now that people are moving freely? Nobody should oppose the extension. That is the truth.
“Those senators who are opposing the rule should come and stay in their localities if they can. They are in Abuja enjoying and are saying there should be no extension. Don’t listen to them because we do not agree with that.
“Let them come and stay here if they can. All of them have run away and saying rubbish. We do not even know when they are around or not. It is their opinion which should be disregarded. The people’s safety should be of utmost importance here.”
Northern senators met on Wednesday to discuss the desirability of the emergency rule extension.
The senators, who met for about three hours, resolved to reject the extension.
Chairman of the Northern Senators, Umaru Dahiru, told journalists after the meeting that the group had set up a committee to meet with the governments of the affected states on the way forward.
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