BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT – Following the aftermath of the selection process of the Mai Tangle and the violent protest that erupted as a result of the state government’s adoption of a candidate that was deemed not to be the choice of the people, the Gombe State Government on Monday inaugurated a Commission of Inquiry to look into the disturbances.
The protests that erupted was as a result of the people’s rejection of the choice of the State Government as against their popular choice as represented by the King Makers of the Tangale Traditional Council, which led to loss of lives and destruction of properties.
However, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State while inaugurating the constituted Commission of Inquiry charged to probe the root cause of the violence which took place between February 17 and 20, 2021, directed members of the panel to dig out the remote and immediate causes of the violence.
He said that the commission of inquiry was constituted following the violent protests that resulted in deaths of innocent persons, damage and destruction of valuable property including residential houses, business premises and Mosques thereby causing the displacement of families and commercial activities.
Yahaya said; “You may recall that following the death of his Royal Highness the Mai Tangle, Abdu Buba Maisheru, the state government directed the Kingmakers of the Tangale Traditional Council to commence the selection process of the successor. However, before the government could finalize and make pronouncement on the new Mai Tangle, some unpatriotic elements began an Endsars-type protest (codenamed #LockdownBilliri) by blocking the Gombe-Yola federal highway and other entry points into Billiri Local Government and thereafter some unscrupulous elements hijacked the protest and turned it to a violent one with the support of unpatriotic purveyors of fake news via social media.
“Some people may be tempted to conclude that the crisis emanated from the choice of a new Mai Tangle even though the protests erupted even before the government took a decision on who to appoint. Some may be tempted to give the crisis a religious or political coloration or both.”
Yahaya said that it was in light of this that his administration strongly believes that determining the causes of the crisis is needed in order to sanction those involved and take necessary measures to prevent future occurrence.
He said that in exercise of the powers conferred on him as Governor by section 2 of the Commission of inquiry law, he therefore constituted the Commission of inquiry into Billiri violent protests with the following terms of reference;
“To find out the remote and immediate causes of the violent protests; identify person or group of persons who sponsored, procured, instigated or encouraged the violent protests and to recommend sanctions or remedial measures against such persons or group of persons; receive and investigate complaints from victims or the families of victims.
“Make appropriate recommendations to government on measures and means of preventing the future occurrence of violent protests and how to make perpetrators account for their acts,” among others.
Yahaya urged members of the commission to be thorough and fair in discharging their assigned responsibilities while calling on the people to assist the commission with honest, useful and genuine information.
The governor said that in order to cushion the effects of the violent protests, the state government recently distributed a considerable quantity of palliatives to the people directly and indirectly affected by the crisis.
Yahaya said that the Commission of inquiry is comprised of people of impeccable character drawn from diverse professional backgrounds with Retired Justice Mahmud Gurama as Chairman with AIG Zubairu Mu’azu (rtd), Mr. Mahmud Bappa Aliyu Esq Sharon Faliya Cham and Rev Bitrus Urbanus Thaba as members.
Others amembers include Abdulhamid Salisu Bello, Victoria Mamuda Usman, Mr. Robert Wabida Esq, Abdullahi Jalo (Castic), Dr Ya’u Ahmed Kashere while Mr Musa Sa’idu will serve as Secretary just as H.N. Nwoye Esq will serve as Counsel to the Commission.
Earlier, the Secretary to the state government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi reminisced over some of the measures earlier taken by the state government to include the imposition of curfew, stakeholders’ engagements and other steps in stabilizing the situation in Billiri.
While congratulating the members, Njodi called on them to justify the confidence reposed in them by the state governor.
The commission has 60 days within which it is expected to submit its report.
