NEDU MARK, Yenagoa
Governor Seriake Dickson has inaugurated a six-man judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the violence which characterized the December 5 and 6 governorship election in parts of the state.
The inauguration, which was performed at the executive council chamber of the Government House, had Justice Margaret Akpomiemie as Commission Chairman.
Other members are Brig.-Gen. Bob Ake (rtd.), Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria Abah Tekena, Mrs. Martha Akpana, Mr. Abraham Lord Ekiamene and Mr. Tamadu Abasi (counsel for the commission).
Dickson explained that he carried out the exercise by virtue of the powers conferred on him by Section 2 (1) of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap 8 Laws of Bayelsa State of Nigeria 2006 and in exercise of all other powers enabling him in that behalf.
“I hereby constitute and appoint a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violence, mayhem and grave breach of the peace that occurred in parts of the state on or about the 3rd to 6th of December, 2015.
“This is the first commission of inquiry my government is setting up and that tells everyone the seriousness of the issues that the commission has been empanelled to deal with.”
Dickson said when he took over in 2012, his administration was inundated with reports of various killings, extra-judicial, cult-related murders, executions, high profile killings on the streets of Yenagoa.
“But with the aggressive law enforcement policies we put in place, we were able by the grace of God to reduce all these to the barest minimum. We have reduced cultism to the extent that Bayelsa is one of the safest places to be.
“Unfortunately, in the course of the preparation leading to the general elections, we had of course, a build up of arms, dangerous weapons and we also had reports of plans that people were making to kill and maim and again plunge our state into violence and wanton killings.
“The elections have come and have gone largely. But everyone is aware of the degree of violence that was unleashed on our people from Brass, Ekeremor and other areas.
“All I am saying is that our government is committed as ever in the area of protection of lives and property of people of the state. It is only an irresponsible government that will have the kinds of reports that we have received from our people, from local and international observers and not do anything.
“The most important duty and responsibility of every government is the maintenance of law and order. To see how we can protect lives and property, we cannot as a government in the face of wanton disrespect for the lives of our people, keep quiet and not do anything.
“Today, a lot of Bayelsans are receiving treatments, some of them life threatening for no fault of theirs. And our concern is not whether the perpetrators belong to one political party or the other. Our concern is that this should not have happened and our resolve as a government is to properly work with the commission and others to identify those who caused it and ensure as much as we can within our powers to bring the culprits to book.”
Earlier, in her remarks, Chairman of the commission, Mrs. Margaret Akpomiemie, urged the public to come up with concrete and substantiated facts about the violence, saying every memorandum must indicate the writer’s name, address and details.
“We need all that we need to carry out our activities effectively. This is a commission and not a high court presided over by one judge. We are prepared to serve the public conscientiously.”
The ceremony had the deputy governor, John Jonah, Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Edmund Allison-Madueke and members of his cabinet in attendance.
