[size=14pt]Revolution looms, panel on polls violence warns[/size]
TUESDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2011 00:00 FROM MADU ONUORAH, ABUJA NEWS

Raises alarm over politicians’ private armies

Asks govt to tackle unemployment, power

Seeks referendum in impeachment processes

Jonathan vows to enforce report, says heaven won’t fall

THE Federal Government Investigation Panel on the 2011 Election Violence yesterday submitted its report to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, with a warning that if the current social, economic and security situation in Nigeria is unaddressed, it could “escalate to social revolution.”

Chairman of the panel, Sheikh Ahmed Lemu said for Jonathan to do all that is required to take Nigeria away from the spiralling violence, he would step on the toes of some powerful persons and institutions.

The committee stated that “to allay fears of the recent undemocratic process of impeachment by selfish politicians that might emerge while the President is taking steps for positive changes in the society, we also recommend that the constitution be amended in such a way that impeachable offences should be subjected to judicial interpretation and the final verdict determined through a referendum by the same electorate who voted for the President of their choice.”

He added that Nigerians of high integrity and moral probity in every state should be identified for assignment of major responsibilities towards achieving positive change in the country.

Jonathan, who thanked members of the committee for accepting to serve even at the risk to their lives, said “until government has the political will and encouraged to do what is right no matter how painful it will be, the culture of impunity will continue.”

The President pledged to implement the panel’s recommendations, as “heaven will not fall” in the process of doing it.

Lemu said: “The first and probably the most important major cause (of the post-election crises) is the failure on the part of the previous successive regimes since the military to hand over power to civilians in 1999 to implement the recommendations of various committees, commissions and panels that had taken place in our nation. That failure facilitated the wide spread sense of impunity in the culprits and perpetrators of crimes and violence in the Nigerian society. We recommend that you order security agencies to fish out culprits of violence for prosecution.”

He listed past reports that were not implemented to include:

•The Babalakin Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Bauchi State Civil Disturbances;

•Karibi Whyte Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Kafanchan Disturbances;

•Niki Tobi Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Plateau State Disturbances;

•Justice Sankey Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Wase and Langtang Disturbances;

•Justice Disu Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Plateau State Disturbances;

•Prof. Tamuno Panel of Inquiry on National Security, and the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63959:revolution-looms-panel-on-polls-violence-warns&catid=1:national&Itemid=559