BY Emma Amaize

WARRI—chairman, Transition Committee, Patani Local Government Council, Delta State, Dr. Chris Ekiyor; Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo and Warri-based activist, Mr. Oghenjabor Ikimi, have called on Nigerians, especially Northern leaders, to support President Goodluck Jonathan in his battle against Boko Haram insurgents.

Reacting to the declaration of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by  President Jonathan, they said it was long overdue and  a step in the right direction.

Ekiyor said: “The decision to declare a state of emergency  in the North has been long overdue, and is a step in the right direction. This has confirmed my insistence  on no amnesty for Boko Haram. The terrorist group is bent on creating their own enclave and no amount of kid gloves approach will deter them.

“This group has no legitimate issue to pursue for anybody, let alone the North, and I think the earlier the Northern leaders throw their weight behind Mr. President in dealing with the menace,  the better, else the North would soon be a land deserted by even the northerners.”

Coordinator of Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, Warri, Mr.  Ikimi, on his part,  said: “I make bold to say that the proclamation by Mr . President falls short of all the attributes of a state of emergency in the real sense of its constitutional meaning. I think Mr. President is either playing to the gallery or in fact playing politics with the state of insecurity in the above states as shown in his address to the nation.”

Keyamo  said: “The declaration of a state of emergency by President  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 than 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.”