For some time now I have followed proceedings at the Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission with so much passion, simply to justify my feeling it is going to end up creating more problems than it is intended to solve. In fact, I still feel the commission is a shamble regardless of the presence of Justice Kayode Esho as the chairman of the panel. Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo had during the first term of his two term tenure set up what was then known as Oputa Panel after the name of the head of that commission, Retired Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.
While, contrary to people’s opinion, the Oputa Panel which was then seen as a ploy by the former president to embarrass General Ibrahim Babangida in particular, the panel succeeded in healing a lot of wounds and some people were truly reconciled. The same cannot be said of the Justice Kayode Esho panel currently going on in
It would be observed that all fingers points in just one direction as far as proceedings at the commission is concerned. Barely all of the witnesses and complainants that have appeared at the panel have one thing or the other to accuse the former governor of, including being the chief financier of cult activities which has become a torn in the flesh of both Nigerians and foreigners in the entire Niger Delta. If truly, the former two term governor is such a devil in human skin, shouldn’t we be wary of the possibility of him or his supporters unleashing more mayhem on the state and the region at large to forestall proceeding at the commission.
My intention is not to hold brief for Dr. Peter Odili whom I am sure could not have been innocent of all the charges against him, including the assassination of his friend Dr, Marshal Harry. The essence of this article is to warn the state of an impending doom. I have watched with keen interest and the signals I am seeing is that of outbreak of violence in the state as a result of this truth and reconciliation committee. Suffix to say that some loyalists of the former governor are of the opinion that the commission is a vendetta mission to get back at the former governor for dropping him in favour of Sir Celestine Omehia during the last general election.
The truth of the matter is, the truth and reconciliation commission, rather than heal wounds and offer lasting solutions to the problems in River State, it will open up more wounds and inflict pains in the heart indigenes so much so that may put the state on the brink of total collapse. If this is allowed to happen, posterity will not forgive those directly responsible.
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