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Wike inaugurates panel to probe violence at Rivers rerun

By Kelvin Ebiri
07 April 2016   |   12:12 am
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has inaugurated a six-man judicial commission of inquiry, into the violence and killings that characterised the March 19, 2016 national and state legislative rerun elections in the state.
Wike

Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has inaugurated a six-man judicial commission of inquiry, into the violence and killings that characterised the March 19, 2016 national and state legislative rerun elections in the state.

Wike, while swearing in the members, lamented the violence, stating it was necessary to ascertain the root cause, with a view to checking a recurrence.

Chairman of the panel is Justice Monima Wenike Danagogo, while Mrs Uche Uriri will serve as secretary. Other members include; John Adubasim, Mrs. Douye Green, Joseph Zabbey and Luke Nwanodi.

The panel has as its mandate, the unraveling of those involved in the killings, those killed and the scope of violence during the elections.

The governor also asked the members to identify property damaged in the course, and owners of such property. He urged the chairman to use his experience in guiding other members, towards making necessary recommendations that would enhance political stability and peace in the state.

According to him, “The commission has one month to submit its report,’ adding the people ‘must know those involved in the violence and killings. We must get to the root of the violence and killings during the rerun elections,” he said.

Wike added that it is imperative that the people are informed, “Since we were not at the location of the violence, and would therefore rely on the judicial commission of inquiry to investigate what took place during the elections.”

The chairman assured the governor that the commission would work without fear or favour.It would be recalled that the All Progressives Congress (APC), had opposed the setting up of the commission, which he described as a ruse, and an attempt by the governor to divert attention from the deaths, which have been blamed on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

APC spokesperson, Chris Finebone, argued that the governor’s threats, before and during the elections were proofs that PDP was culpable.

APC urged the governor to look for “More honest means of compensating his supporters and their relations, rather than sending them on a journey to nowhere, or one that would suffer a still-birth,” he added.

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