Wike sets up panel to probe Rivers poll violence

 


Governor Nyesom Wike

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Wednesday swore in the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the violence / killings that marred the March 19 rerun legislative elections, with a charge to the commission to get to the root of the matter.

The investigation came amidst protests and accusation of insincerity and double standards levelled against Wike and Independent National Electoral Commission by the opposition party in the state. The governor was accused of hiding under the Commission of Enquiry to cover up for his setting the stage for violence by asking any INEC ad hoc or regular staff coming to Rivers State with the intention to rig the election to write his will because he would be treated as an armed robber.

Senator Magnus Abe,Candidate of All Progressive Congress,APC, for Rivers South East Senatorial District had accused Governor Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, of making hate speeches and arming “its standing army other than the Federal Government army by buying Army uniforms for them to prosecute violence during the election”.

APC in a statement by it State Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone,accused the Wike and PDP of double standards because a post election Commission of Inquiry set up by former Governor Chibuike Amaechi and headed by Professor Odinkalu,Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, NHRC,in 2015 to find out the cause of electoral violence was rejected and challenged in Court by the PDP and recommendations rejected by the PDP and Governor Wike.

Abe specifically said that Dumebi Okonta,the NYSC member who was murdered during the March 19 rerun election was one of those Governor Wike asked to write his will before taking up INEC job and as an orphan, he paid the supreme price.

Senator Abe claimed the hate campaigns made by Governor Wike emboldened “the PDP Army” to commit violence.

Abe who spoke on Channels Television further alleged that those who were arrested by law enforcement agents in 2015 and March 19 rerun election, among whom were Chieftains of PDP and top government officials of the Rivers State Government were never prosecuted.

However, Governor Wike swore in Mr Ugbana Isaruk as a Commissioner in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC. Mr Isaruk replaces a late member of the commission.

Swearing in the members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry under the chairmanship of Justice Monima Wenike Danagogo, Governor Wike decried the violence witnessed during the rerun elections, saying that it was necessary to ascertain the root causes with a view to checking a recurrence in the future.

He charged the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to identify those involved in the killings, those killed and the scope of violence during the elections.

The governor also charged the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to identify property damaged in the course of the violence and the owners of such property.

He urged the Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to use his experience to guide other members towards making necessary recommendations that will enhance political stability and peace in the state.

He said: “The commission has one month beginning today to submit its report. We must know those involved in the violence and killings. We must get to the root of the violence and killings during the March 19 rerun elections. Since we were not at the location of the violence, we rely on the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate what took place “.

To the new member of RSIEC, the governor advised him to join other members of the commission to deliver credible elections.

Responding, Justice Monima Wenike Danagogo assured the governor that the commission will work without fear or favour.