A former Minister of Information and Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States in view of the persistent terrorists’ attacks and insecurity in the states.
Chief Clark who is one of the leaders in the Niger-Delta explained that the state of emergency in the three states was necessary to allow the military, clear the remainants of the insurgents.
Addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja, Clark said the state of emergency declared in the states during the reign of President Goodluck Jonathan was not total, stressing it must be total this time around.
The ex-minister said the abduction of 110 Dapchi school girls was a clear indication that the Boko Haram terrorists were still very active in the north-east.
He stated that insecurity in the country and particularly in the north-east should not be seen as a normal phenomenon, adding that pragmatic military and political approaches were necessary to stem the tide.
He accused Governors Kashim Shettima (Borno), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe) and Jibrilla Bindow of frustrating federal government’s effort to end insurgency in their states and claimed they were benefiting from the war.
"Buhari should declare a total state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States. This will create a conducive atmosphere for the military to clear the remainants of Boko Haram," he said.
According to him, Geidam’s claim that the removal of road blocks aided the abduction of Dapchi girls was ‘reckless’ and called on well-meaning Nigerians to support the move to rescue the girls.
