Rivers Crisis: Commission Promises Sanity, Peace

The Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the crisis that rocked the

Rivers State Commissioner for Special Duties, Barr Dickson Umunakwe (right) chatting with Director of Administration in the Ministry, Victor O. Charles, during the training course on capacity building in flood disaster management orgainsed by the Ministry of Special Duties at Viontel Hotel, Stadium Road, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

state House of Assembly has said that it would make necessary recommendations that would bring lasting peace to the state Assembly in particular and the state at large.
The chairman of the commission, Justice Biobele A Georgewill stated this in his opening address delivered at the inaugural public sitting of the commission held at the state High Court II, Port Harcourt, Monday.
Justice Georgewill said that any persons found culpable before the commission shall not be spared, no matter how highly or lowly placed, while assuring all those affected in the crisis of  impartiality and neutrality in their assignment.
According to him, the commission shall carry out a thorough investigation and painstakingly review all the facts and evidence that would be placed before it during the public sitting, adding that they would render justice to every person that appears before it.
“All persons affected or interested shall be given adequate opportunity to present their own side of the story by hard facts and concrete evidence, and all shall be equally and impartially treated, and be heard to the end that justice will be achieved and rendered to all the parties”, he said.
“Having assured all the parties involved affected or interested of our pledge to do justice to all that will appear before us without fear or favour, ill-will or affection in accordance with our oath of office as chairman and members of this commission, even if the heavens fall, we hereby appeal most passionately to every persons, authorities and bodies concerned or interested or affected to now sheath their swords and put an immediate end to further hostilities even on the pages of newspapers”, he said.
The chairman stated the commission’s solemn pledge and assurances to all, “as a bond with the people of the state, that we shall render justice to all, no matter how highly or lowly placed, even if the heavens fall” and assured that heavens will never fall merely because justice was done in any given situation.
Justice Georgewill promised to restore justice and peace to the state House of Assembly, adding that the commission will not fail the good people of the state in the discharge of their functions.
He solicited for the cooperation of every persons, authorities or bodies affected, involved or interested, including the press for a smooth proceedings throughout the public sitting of the commission.
The commission later adjourned its sitting to Monday, 12 August, 2013