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.