PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, heeded the popular call to probe the post-election violence in some of the northern states as he appointed a 22-man panel of inquiry to look into the causes of the violence.
The panel which is headed by Sheik Ahmed Lemu, is to carry out a full scale investigation into the violence that erupted following protests by supporters of General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, over his defeat.
About 500 innocent people including National Youth Corps members were killed; while many places of worship, people’s homes and business premises were burnt during the violence.
Secretary to Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Ahmed Yayale, said in a statement yesterday, that the panel would also investigate the pre-election violence in Akwa Ibom State, where four people were reportedly killed and some vehicles worth N2billion destroyed.
There were reported moves by some interests to dissuade the Federal Government from investigating the violence but President Jonathan vowed that he would not sweep the outrageous senseless killings under the carpet.
The statement said: “The President of the Federal of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the constitution of a panel to investigate pre-election violence in Akwa Ibom State as well as the civil unrest in some states following the 2011 Presidential Election.”
The panel’s terms of reference include: “To investigate the immediate and remote cause(s) of the pre-election violence in Akwa Ibom State as well as the tide of unrest in some states of the federation following the presidential election and make appropriate recommendations on how to prevent future occurrence.”
Casualties
It is also to ascertain the number of persons who lost their lives or sustained injuries during the violence and identify the spread and extent of loss and damage to means of livelihood; assess the cost of damage to personal and public property and places of worship and make appropriate recommendations.
Other terms of reference include, investigating the sources of weapons used in the unrest and recommending how to stem the tide of illegal flow of such weapons to the country and examine any other matter incidental or relevant to the unrest and advise Government as appropriate.
“The Panel will be inaugurated by Mr President on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 11.am in the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja”, the statement said. Members of the panel are: Justice Samson Uwaifo (rtd), Vice Chairman and Mr. F.F.Ogunshakin who will serve as secretary.
The rest are: Rev. Father Idowu Feron; Alhaji Muhammadu Danmadami, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, Mrs Lateefat Okunnu; M.B.Walli,; Dr (Mrs) Timiebi A.Koripamo-Agary; Comrade Peter Esele; Alhaji Muhammed Ibrahim and Professor Femi Odekunle.
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