*promises thorough analysis, implementation of recommendations
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya says the recommendations contained in the report submitted by the Commission of Inquiry into the February Billiri violent crisis will be thoroughly analysed and implemented to guard against future occurrence.
According to a statement signed by the Director-General (Press Affairs)Government House Gombe, Ismaila Uba Misilli, dated September 22, 2021, Governor Inuwa Yahaya gave the assurance while receiving the Commission’s report at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House, Gombe.
The Governor remarked that the crisis that led to the setting up of the Commission of Inquiry constituted the greatest challenge his administration had faced in the last two years and four months of its stewardship.
“And we take it as something that has been predetermined by God because is only God that guides and controls whatever that happens to humanity”.
He regretted the level of primordial attachments some people harboured that could even lead to the destruction of lives and property of their brothers and sisters.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya assured that his administration will carefully study the matters and the circumstances that led to the violent crisis so as to guard against future occurrence while imposing sanctions where necessary to maintain the excellent relationship going forward.
” I am not surprised my lord that it took you this long to go through this process because the enormity of the task is very high and not only that, as a Justice of a high court of Bauchi State then, you were among those thorough and very deligent jurists on your job so also all the members of the commission”.
The Governor revealed that members of the commission were chosen based on their individual track records and the trajectory upon which they built their career of always ensuring that issues of public interest are laid bare without prejudice.
“Let me say that any assignment done to this level by men that are really very thorough in life is something that we should behold and is something that we must work with. So the time that you put in preparing this report will not go in vain and will not be wasted because we shall go through this report and make sure that the recommendations are properly implemented so that we will avoid the pitfalls that we went through in our life time going forward”.
The Governor used the occasion to thank the people of Billiri Local Government and management and staff of the Ministry of Justice and the state civil service as well as other citizens of the State for supporting the Commission during its assignment.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya directed the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice and relevant officials to ensure that proper analysis of the report is made as soon as possible.
He equally called on all and sundry to join hands with Government in doing all that is right and just so that at the end of time fosterity will leave to judge “our individual and collective conduct kindly”.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Commission, Retired Justice Mahmoud Gurama said a total of 181 petitions and memoranda were received out of which 154 were heard and determined while 27 were struck out for want of merit or outright withdrawal by the petitioners.
The Jurist told Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya that the Commission had to ask for more days considering the tremendous response from the people of Billiri Local Government, the security and other agencies in the State.
He therefore thanked Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for finding them worthy to serve and also appreciated other Government functionaries, security agencies and the Media for their support while the commission’s sitting lasted.
