A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member of the House of Representatives from Plateau State, Hon. John Langhor has said that the state did not need the establishment of a reconciliation commission as proposed by President Obasanjo without restoration of suspended democratic structures in the state.
The President, had in a session of October 7, addressed to the Speaker, Aminu Bello Masari and read during a plenary sitting of the House, sought the approval of the House for a Bill to make provision for the Plateau State Unity and reconciliation law 2004 and establishment of a reconciliation commission.
The aim of the commission, according to the President, is to consolidate and promote unity and reconciliation among the citizens of Plateau State and reconciliation between victims and perpetrators of crimes in the course of past conflicts. The objectives of the commission include among others, to investigate level of human rights violation between June 2000 to May, 2004, to facilitate recommendations for granting amnesty, to inquire whether human rights violations were deliberate state, individual or institutional policy and to recommend measures to forestall any future violation of human rights.
Reacting to the request for the commission, Hon. John Longhor said for there to be true reconciliation, the state Assembly and other democratic structures suspended must be returned, adding that rather than a commission for Plateau, there should be a national commission to respond to other states characterised by fatal crisis like Rivers, Borno and Kano.
He said about nine commissions of inquiry have been set up in the past whose recommendation were not implemented, and that the Plateau Commission has a suspect motive because it seems to be a ploy not to return democratic government to the state.
“We are suspicious of the commission and Plateau people feel they are targeted and it would do great damage on democracy in Plateau if emergency is extended for the sake of the commission,” Longhor said, adding that return of democracy cannot be compromised.
He also said that suspended governor Dariye was set up by his political enemies because there was no case of money laundering against him.
|
|
