Support for Jonathan's State Of Emergency grows, Keyamo says OK, I do too

Reactions have started to trail the nationwide broadcast by President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday in which he expressed his anger over the endless bloodshed in some northern states, and declaring a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

Lending his support to the President’s action, prominent lawyer, Festus Keyamo, says the decision was long overdue, adding that the activities of the insurgents had left President Jonathan with no other choice than to take the step he has taken.

“The declaration of a State of Emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States as a result of months of ceaseless bloodshed and carnage by insurgents is a step that has long been overdue. The bloodletting in these states left the President with no other option but to take this extraordinary step. This step must be appreciated in the light of the refusal of the insurgents to even dialogue with the Federal Government,” Mr. Keyamo explained in a press statement.

Mr. Keyamo added that the protection of lives and properties all citizens lies primarily with the government and it is also the responsibility of the same government to find solution to any threat to peace, warning that the Federal Government should not politicise the state of emergency on these states.

The human rights activist maintained that the president was right in not suspending the governors in the respective states as nothing in the constitution in Section 305 of the amended 1999 Constitution states that the President has the power to suspend the governors.

And yes, I too say it is long overdue ..