Three Northern governors fund Northern lawmakers to frustrate emergency rule extension as Northern Senators vow to vote against extension

The three State Governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States have launched a massive financial reward scheme for Northern National Assembly members to ensure that they vote against the request of President Jonathan for the extension of emergency to contain the insurgents.

Close to twenty representatives of the three governors made up of commissioners and special advisers thronged the National Assembly where they met privately with Northern Senators and Northern House of Representatives members at the instance of Speaker Tambuwal.

In a shocking and seemingly unpatriotic move, Northern Senators on Wednesday declared that they will not support the extension of the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, declaring that they will vote against the extension.

The Northern Senators Forum took the decision on Wednesday after a closed door meeting which had in attendance top All Progressive Congressive, APC, leaders, four northern governors and leading anti-Jonathan elements from the northern region regions.

Governor Kashim Shettima allegedly briefed the senators in the four-hour meeting, urging the senators to pull down the extension of the emergency rule request of the President.

The Senators, Governors and APC leaders also moved to the House of Representatives, where Speaker Aminu Tambuwal is leading the team to pull down the request of the President.

After the lengthy meeting, Senator Umaru Dahiru declared that the northern senators have resolved to fight against the extension of the emergency rule. He told journalists in a press conference that nothing will make the senators from the north change their position.

He noted that the northern senators will insist on open voting. He said they can only accept the emergency rule if they lose during voting. He said with two-third required, there is no way the extension will succeed.

Fifty senators attended the meeting.

At the House of Representatives, the APC Leader, Femi Gbajiamiala declared that the party was vehemently opposed to the emergency rule extension. The members of the House of Representatives debated the President’s letter for four hours, but could not vote due to divergent opinions.

Celebrating the early victory of the Northern lawmakers on shooting down the extension of the emergency rule, Abdulahi Bego, Special Adviser on Media to Yobe State Governor declared that the Yobe State Government will not accept any extension.

Realizing the massive move by the APC and the Northern Legislators to frustrate , the Presidency officials have reached out to PDP members from both Houses. The Presidency officials are also meeting with APC legislators with nationalistic views.

The same legislators contacted to check the APC failed decision to frustrate the budget are meeting with defence officials on the matter.

It was also learnt that President Jonathan has perfected plan B military strategy should the APC and Northern legislators backed by massive funding from the three affected states.