HON BITRUS KAZE ON THE STATE OF EMERGENCY PROCLAIMED BY JONATHAN ON 31 DEC 2011

"In had asked if there was any guarantee that Boko Haram will be patient enough to wait for almost two weeks without launching any attacks, Maiduguri and Gombe have just suffered attacks despite the emergency rule!

"It's not really clear to me what yardstick was used in declaring emergency rule in some States but I wondered aloud why FCT, Kaduna Metropolis, Gombe and Bauchi were excluded. In debating a Matter of Urgent National Importance on the floor of the House, the rules require that the matter be taken the next Legislative day but if the matter is considered very urgent, all relevant rules are suspended so that it can be taken there and then.

"An emergency rule was declared on 31st Dec last year, it is awaiting ratification by the National Assembly now on recess till 10th Jan, 2012. To me waiting for a whooping 10 days defeats the sense an 'emergency.' In the face eminent danger envisaged under section 305 of CFN 1999 (as amended) the National Assembly would have convened an extra ordinary session."