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Jos crisis: FG to check other
areas – Presidency
From Bashir Umar, Abuja
Thursday, November 26, 2009
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Governor Jonah Jang
•Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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The presidential panel set up by the Federal Government to investigate
the civil crisis that rocked Jos, the Plateau State capital in November
2008 will commence public hearing on December 10, 2009. The eight-man
panel is headed by Major-General Emmanuel Abisoye (rtd).
Dissatisfied with the report of the Plateau State probe panel on
the November 2008 religious crisis, the Presidency had insisted
that the Abisoye public hearing would have to touch on areas that
“only the Government has the legitimacy to do that.”
It would be recalled that there was a face-off between Plateau State
Government and the Presidency over who had the right to investigate
the Jos crisis, resulting in a court action instituted by Governor
Jonah Jang, who got an injunction from a court in Jos.
He, however, withdrew the case following intervention by the
PDP National Secretariat and some prominent party members who believed
the Governor was overreacting to the issue unnecessarily even as
he went ahead to set up the investigative committee at the State
level.
Governor Jang also wrote a letter of apology to President Umaru
Yar’Adua over the Jos crisis.
Speaking to the Daily Sun exclusively, a
member of the Panel, who solicited anonymity, said: “as indicated
in our terms of reference, we shall enquire about the alleged foreign
interference, firearms, immigration matters and state security,
including the security of the State Governor, Jonah Jang himself.
He told Daily Sun that the 9-member Panel had already
paid a courtesy visit to the Governor who promised to cooperate
with them and assist in any way possible.
On why it took the Federal Government one year to start the investigation,
our Presidency source said, “considering the high tension
at that moment and going by the insistence of the State to set up
its independent investigative Panel, care had to be taken in order
not to escalate the crisis then.”
The Panel expects to receive oral evidence from affected and concerned
communities, individuals and organizations including the Plateau
State Government, the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission,
Jos North Communities and all security agencies and religious groups.
Others expected to give oral evidence to the Panel are humanitarian
organizations, public institutions, socio-cultural organizations
and individuals. The public sitting is scheduled to hold at the
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.
It could be recalled that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua
established the Panel to investigate the crisis that engulfed Jos
North Local Government area of Plateau State with five terms of
reference, including to “examine the impact of the crisis
which occurred in Jos Metropolis from 28th – 30th November,
2008 on National Security” and “assess the impact of
the crisis on the peace, order and good governance of the Federation.”
The rest of the terms of reference for the Panel are to “examine
the extent of involvement of foreign nationals (if any) in the crisis”
and “examine the extent of the use of light weapons, ammunitions
and explosive” as well as “make such other recommendations
as may be deemed appropriate under the circumstance.”
The Panel has already invited the Nigeria media and those wishing
to give evidence for accreditation which will start on December
7, 2009.
Members of the investigation panel include: Gen. Emmanuel Abisoye,
Amb. G. Preware, Amb. Fati Abubakar, Amb. AIG Yusuf Haruna (rtd),
Prof. Harisu Chukkol, Alh. Lawal Daura, Air Comm. Abiagom, Barr.
Festus Okoye, Alh. Musa Shafi’i who serves as the Secretary.
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