Positive moves to resolve Kwande crisis
From Simeon Nwakaudu (Makurdi)
AFTER denials and trading of accusations, the admission of the existence of militiamen in Kwande local council in Benue State maybe a positive step towards resolving the crisis, which has claimed over 500 lives, with over 2,000 houses burnt.
On Tuesday, after an emergency meeting of the State Security Council in response to renewed killings, the council said it was time the bloody activities of the groups were halted to ensure the security of lives in the area.
For the first time, the council said that the two leading political parties in the Kwande crisis - the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) - were sponsoring the militia groups.
A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. John Orokpo, stated that the council, after an inspection tour of areas affected by the crisis, learnt that the PDP and ANPP were sponsoring the activities of militiamen. Their goal is to disrupt peaceful co-existence in the area for their own selfish political aims.
The council also indicated that from the pattern of destruction and the weapons used, it was obvious that the militiamen were not hired from Kwande.
In the interest of peace, the security council appealed to the people to work in concert with security agencies to ensure that the activities of the militiamen were checked to pave way for the sitting of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry recently inaugurated.
Led by the State Governor, George Akume, the council, after a tour of the crisis-ravaged area, lamented that the unwholesome activities of the militiamen had assumed a frightening dimension. The killer groups have invaded the rural areas and the hinterland of Kwande council, extorting monies and harassing people at will without any form of provocation.
The council said that this criminal dimension of the Kwande crisis must stop to allow the people settle to reasonable and peaceful lives, which the ordinary Kwande man yearns for with passion.
While expressing happiness that relative peace had returned to Adikpo, the council headquarters, the Security Council urged a complete dislodgement of the militias.
During the visit, the governor appealed to the youths of the area not to allow themselves to be used as thugs by politicians whom he claimed were not interested in their welfare.
Akume commended the Kwande traditional ruler, Chief James Azape, for living up to expectation, by refusing to be provoked by several attacks on himself and his family by some political groups, without provocation.
He advised the Kwande people to take full advantage of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to eliminate falsehood and rumour mongering over the political crisis in their area.
While emphasising the commitment of his administration to the enthronement of peace in the state, Akume noted that through fair representations at the Commission of Inquiry, solutions could be found to the persistent crises in Kwande and other areas.
He warned those who own dangerous weapons to surrender them to law enforcement agents as part of the march towards peace.
However, the state ANPP is unimpressed with the efforts of the state government on the matter. The state chairman of the party, Chief Godwin Ukposu, said in a statement that the government was aware of the immediate cause of the on-going crisis in Kwande, but was only using diversionary tactics to cover up its tracks.
"The annulment of the election without due process by the state government led to a demonstration by some restive youths for justice and fairness. Government reaction was swift and decisive. All ANPP houses in Adikpo and Turanland were raised to the ground and PDP flags hoisted in their former places by a well-armed and well-funded militia group," he said.
The ANPP chieftain noted that the ruthlessness of the militia group had attracted the attention of local and international media, and that the Senate was going to visit the crisis zone.
According to Ukposu, in spite of the Senate committee's visit, killing, torture of people and burning of houses have continued unabated.
"A few days ago, over 30 persons at a waking were murdered in cold blood. Women and children are the greatest targets, especially in Turanland. Their tactics is to spread terror."
According to the ANPP, the situation in Kwande is fast assuming the character of a genocide, adding that only urgent intervention of all men of goodwill will avert further human suffering and bloodshed.
"At the beginning of this crisis, the Benue State Government made feeble attempts to explain it away. Its first reaction was that there was no crisis. Its second reaction was that it was a land crisis. Its final reaction, which came through its spokesman, said the operation was a reprisal one."
According to the party, prevailing circumstances in the state have led it to decide against participating in the Judicial Commission of Inquiry under the chairmanship of Justice Vajim Alogbo. The party alleged that the commission has a one-sided constitution, and allegedly aimed at legitimising the conduct of government in Kwande and therefore nail its perceived enemies in the areas.
The ANPP said: "No sane person from the ANPP will agree to appear before a panel composed essentially of cronies of the governor."
The party appealed to the Federal Government to come to the aid of the people of the state by constituting another Judicial Commission of Inquiry to look into the immediate and remote causes of the crisis.
However, the state PDP expressed confidence that the commission would help to stem the crisis and resolve issues that generated the mayhem.
The acting chairman of the PDP, Mr. Aloysius Wuam commended the government for inaugurating the commission of inquiry.
He said that the commission will go a long way towards checking the menacing militiamen and deal with the rumour mongering, which has contributed to the escalation of the crisis. Wuam appealed to the people to desist from peddling rumours on sensitive issues, noting that it was capable of generating tension in the body polity of the state.
The PDP acting chairman noted that he expects that the council election in Kwande will be conducted after the commission concludes its sitting and submits its findings to the state government.
He stressed that democracy entails freedom of expression, which must not be exploited by enemies of progress to foment problem for the people of the state.
Some observers of the Kwande political crisis have urged that apart from judicial option, the state government should exploit the alternative of a political solution, which the Federal Government used in resolving the onshore/offshore oil dichotomy.
According to Mr. Jacob Oruguga, a political analyst, the series of accusations and counter-accusations witnessed since the Kwande crisis commenced had made a judicial solution less attractive. He noted that all groups allegedly involved in the crisis have soiled their hands and implicated themselves through uncalculated utterances.
He said that the prevailing circumstances make it difficult for any recommendations made by the Judicial Commission to be accepted, especially by the ANPP.
Oruguga added that the declaration by the ANPP not to participate in the activities of the Judicial Commission did not come to him as a surprise, as the party had persistently pointed accusing fingers at certain groups.
Also speaking, Mr. Adaji Okopi, a social critic, commended the state government for admitting the existence of militiamen in the Kwande area. He said that with that admission, the government could now positively attack the heart of the crisis and dislodge the militiamen for peace to return.
He suggested that a stakeholders' meeting be convened by Akume to trash out grey areas before any judicial option could be exploited. He added that such a meeting should have principal actors from the Benue ANPP of Kwande extraction in attendance. According to him, without such a meeting, efforts at restoring peace to the troubled spots in Kwande would only amount to playing to the gallery and would not achieve any positive results.`
The council, after a tour of the crisis-ravaged area, lamented that the unwholesome activities of the militiamen had assumed a frightening dimension. The killer groups have invaded the rural areas and the hinterland of Kwande council, extorting monies and harassing people at will without any form of provocation`
