Oshiomhole Sets Panel To Probe Etsako West LG Chairman

By Alltimepost.com

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Tuesday, inaugurated an Administrative Panel of Enquiry into the protest that precipitated the Suspension of Etsako West Local Government Chairman, Hon Alasa Mohammed last month.

Comrade Oshiomhole charged the body to look into the immediate and remote causes of the protest which occurred at the premises of the Local Government.

The Governor had on Tuesday May 26, 2015 suspended Mr. Alhassan Mohammed as Chairman, of the Local Government for two months immediately after he swore him in as the council boss.

Mr. Mohammed, former Vice Chairman of the Local Government had been sworn-in, following the death, on Friday, May 22, 2015 of the former Chairman of the Local Government, Alhaji Hassan Kadiri.

The governor suspended him immediately due to allegations of financing and instigating a breach of public peace, through organized students protest in an attempt to force the late local government chairman to resign his office while fighting for his dear life in the hospital.

Comrade Oshiomhole then promised to set up a panel to investigate the allegations.

Yesterday’s swearing-in of the administrative panel was a fulfillment of that promise.

At the ceremony, the Edo State Chief Executive Officer had this to say: “On the 22nd of May, there were reports both in the Print and Electronic media as well as security reports about protests around Auchi but thanks to the intervention of the Nigerian Police and Operation Thunder storm, it was brought under control.”

“There were all sorts of allegations behind the protest though some of those involved in it include the leadership of the Student Union Government in Auchi Polytechnic and some other persons.

The issue as to who is responsible, who organized the protest, financed it, instigated it is the matter for your investigation,” he told the panel.

Government’s action in that regard, he said was premised on these allegations and would be treated so until proven, adding: “though yours is not a judicial enquiry, yours is an administrative panel which will help us to establish the facts, not necessarily the law about what happened.”

Continuing the Governor charged them to examine the immediate and remote causes, actors and the implications of the said protest.

The panel is also charged to look into the alleged involvement of members of the Student Union of Auchi Polytechnic in the said protest with a view to identifying their possible sponsor and/or those who instigated them and any other matter which could be relevant to helping the government understand what led to the protest and how to avoid a future occurrence.

The Governor urged the body to make appropriate recommendations in good faith, bearing in mind the expectation of pressure from certain quarters who might seek to influence the body’s findings, adding: “but I have had cause to say in different fora that the truth does not require supporters club, it has its leg, hands and head and can stand on its own.

So, just help us to establish the truth and with the benefit of your own recommendations, that we can find a lasting solution to incidents like this.”

He expressed confidence in the members of the Panel of Enquiry and thanked them for accepting to serve believing that they will carry out the exercise as objectively as possible.

In his remark, the Chairman of the Panel, Nosagie Osifo Esq., on behalf of other members thanked the State Governor for the confidence reposed in them, assuring that they will not fail.

Other members of the Panel include: Barr. Itohan Okungbowa, Secretary, while Barr. Osazee Ojo, Mr. Francis Uwaifo and Marcus Onobun will serve as members.