President Goodluck Jonathan, last night, declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states with an order to the military high command to use extra-ordinary measures to quell the insurgency that has bedeviled the states.
Dr Jonathan in a nationwide address said the decision to impose the state of emergency followed the failure of other options, including dialogue that had been employed. The president in an unusually stern address, however, pledged that ongoing efforts at seeking dialogue would not be aborted.
The declaration of state of emergency was arrived at following a meeting with the National Assembly leadership on Monday during which he made his intention known. Before then, he also met with security chiefs during which time the option and strategies were unfolded.
At the meeting with the National Assembly leadership the legislators it was learnt, clearly told the president to retain the democratic structures, a point the president promised he would do having received prior counsel against sacking the elected governors and others.
In his address, yesterday, President Jonathan disclosed that multinational support as obtained in the operation in Baga, Borno State last month, would also be solicited through diplomatic channels to rein-in fleeing terrorists.
The decision to declare the state of emergency was largely welcomed even by critics and stakeholders, including the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC which said the president did not breach any law in his action.
The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN which had like the CPC advised against the declaration of state of emergency was, however, quiet on the issue last night saying it was still studying the situation.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in an unusual accord with the CPC fully endorsed the declaration.
Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State was reticent on the development, yesterday, saying through his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Sajo Ahmed, that he would wait until the proclamation documents are unfolded before commenting.
Dr Jonathan in a nationwide address said the decision to impose the state of emergency followed the failure of other options, including dialogue that had been employed. The president in an unusually stern address, however, pledged that ongoing efforts at seeking dialogue would not be aborted.
The declaration of state of emergency was arrived at following a meeting with the National Assembly leadership on Monday during which he made his intention known. Before then, he also met with security chiefs during which time the option and strategies were unfolded.
At the meeting with the National Assembly leadership the legislators it was learnt, clearly told the president to retain the democratic structures, a point the president promised he would do having received prior counsel against sacking the elected governors and others.
In his address, yesterday, President Jonathan disclosed that multinational support as obtained in the operation in Baga, Borno State last month, would also be solicited through diplomatic channels to rein-in fleeing terrorists.
The decision to declare the state of emergency was largely welcomed even by critics and stakeholders, including the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC which said the president did not breach any law in his action.
The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN which had like the CPC advised against the declaration of state of emergency was, however, quiet on the issue last night saying it was still studying the situation.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in an unusual accord with the CPC fully endorsed the declaration.
Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State was reticent on the development, yesterday, saying through his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Sajo Ahmed, that he would wait until the proclamation documents are unfolded before commenting.