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Uzodimma Gives Izombe Youths 7-day Ultimatum To Surrender Arms In Their Custody

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, on Tuesday visited Aborshi Autonomous Community in Izombe in Oguta Local Government Area to assess the level of damage caused by the recent face-off between youths from the community and security operatives that resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of property.

Addressing the community made up of the traditional, political, business, women and youth leaders at Central School Aborshi, the Governor expressed shock at the level of destruction following the mayhem and tasked all on peace or be ready for the consequences of recourse to violence.

The Governor blamed what happened on the activities of dissident and criminal-minded youths who have decided to make themselves lawless, including going to the extreme of attacking the security operatives who were sent to the  community to protect them.

Governor Uzodimma said he was “highly pained because Izombe is not supposed to be known from the negative point of view.”

The Governor had asked: “Where is the problem coming from? Where did Izombe people get it wrong and who are these youths and young men painting Izombe black? Where are the parents of these youths? Where are the leaders of Izombe?”

Governor Uzodimma told the audience that a situation where criminal-minded young men have taken over affairs in the community and become uncontrollable is not good and “that is why the communities here are suffering today.”

He regretted the death of the soldiers and consequently, heavy damage to property of innocent citizens and asked both the Military and the people of Izombe to bury the hatchet,  sheathe their swords and pursue peace.

To achieve sustainable peace, the Governor informed the audience that Government with set up a Committee to look at the level of destruction, its impact on the people and community and find a way to assist them.

He immediately directed the ISOPADEC Managing Director, Chief Charles Orie, to quickly send relief materials to the area to cushion the effects of the destruction suffered by the people.

His words: “Izombe must be peaceful. Imo State must be peaceful to attract development and prosperity. Nigeria must be peaceful.”

Governor Uzodimma who noted that most of the criminal-minded Izombe youths were being used by politicians appealed to them in particular and all yours in Imo State people in general, to return weapons that are still in their possession within seven days from now or regret not doing so.

The Governor who, also, appealed to the Military authorities to “forgive and forget,” equally appealed to the politicians, traditional rulers, women and youth leaders to think of working together to bring development to Izombe, Imo State and Nigeria.

Before Governor Uzodimma left the people he asked those who ran away from the community to return home and reassured them that “there will be no more killings and molestations,” and that “what happened will never repeat itself.”

The Governor who had earlier visited the Palace of the traditional ruler of Aborshi Autonomous Community,  HRH Eze Pius Muforo, said his visit to the community was “a condolence visit to commiserate with the people of Aborshi and the entire people of Izombe Community over what happened.”

Briefing the Governor on what transpired, a community leader in Izombe, General Kalu Anthony Egwuagu (Rtd.) expressed delight at the visit of Governor Uzodimma, describing it as “a soothing-balm on the wound being nursed by both Izombe people and the Military.”

Gen. Egwuagu said the circumstances surrounding the mayhem was quite unfortunate and thanked the Commandant, 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze,  Brig. Gen. S. B Utsha, “for having a listening ear which led to the halt in the continued destruction in the Community.”

He assured the Governor and people of Imo State on behalf of his people, that “such will not repeat itself in Izombe.”

Eze Muforo who welcomed the Governor to his Palace prayed for peace in Aborshi and Imo State and requested for Government’s assistance over the huge loss his community had suffered from the mayhem.

The Traditional Prime Minister of Aborshi, Chief Obilor Ukachukwu, who painted a gory picture of the incident noted that “the regrettable situation has brought untold hardship” to his people as “the reprisal attack resulted in the burning of houses of natives who are living at home and in the  Diaspora.”

He, however, thanked the Governor for the visit, saying it will go a long way in assuaging their pains.

The Governor was accompanied on the visit by the Deputy Governor,  Prof Placid Njoku, the Chief of Staff, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie, members of the State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, and all Members of the State Security Council, led by the Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Imo State.

Activist Writes Akeredolu, Wants Recommendations Of EndSARS Panel Implemented

By
Ayodele Oni
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Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State
Rotimi Akeredolu

By Ayodele Oni

Human Rights lawyer, Mr Tope Temokun, has urged Ondo State Government to implement recommendations of the Judicial Panel on EndSARS protest submitted to it six months ago.

The plea, coming a year after the endSARS protest, which rocked the entire country, was contained in an open letter addressed to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu by the Activist.

While receiving the report of the panel, headed by Justice Sidiq, Governor Akeredolu admitted that the endSARS protest actually took place but was along the line hijacked by hoodlums that used the opportunity to embark on political vendatta in the state.

The protest led to the destruction of offices of the two political Parties In Ondo state, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and All Progressive Congress, (APC).

The Governor had vowed not to pay the sum of N755 million recommended by the panel saying he would have preferred spending such fund on meaningful projects.

The lawyer stated in the letter that “While I agree partly with Your Excellency that not all cases presented before the panel and which got favourable recommendation for monetary compensation really deserve such compensation.

“I appeared before the panel in some petitions filed on behalf of genuine victims of police brutality and I know that some big politicians filed petitions too that their multi-million naira houses were burnt and wanted the government to pay them for their loss.

“We did not re-open our case before the panel. We simply presented our judgment before the panel and prayed the panel to recommend that the judgment be complied with, as we have written to both the commissioner of police of Ondo State and the Inspector-General of Police, demanding compliance, but all to no avail.

“We had also written to the Attorney-General of the Federation, seeking consent of the AG to execute the judgment against the fund of the Nigeria Police Force, before the panel came and we saw another public platform to canvass compliance.

“Cases of similar or same character with the above form the bulk of cases before the panel and it would only amount to greater injustice against this class of citizens whose cases deserve government attention and intervention if they are categorized generally with others and written off as cases of politicians settling scores.

“However, the precious time and state resources invested in the panel, both by the government and the public, would simply have amounted to a waste of precious time and public resources, if the recommendation, particularly, the deserving cases therein, is not implemented, for the real victims of police brutality to go away fulfilled that justice has been done.”

Breaking: Finally, Senate Endorses e-Collation Of Election Results

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

The Senate has empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to follow the provision of the Nigerian Constitution to determine the best way to transmit election results.

INEC has been clamoring on their constitutional rights to determine ways and means of transmitting election results, while the upper legislative chamber showed reluctance in allowing the election umpire use electronic mode to transmission of elections.

Their position has been backed by a faction of Northern elites who argued that both teledensity and internet connectivity is low in certain parts of the North-sn argument that was immediately faulted by INEC.

By this development, the electoral umpire will now determine how to transmit election results — either electronically or manually. They are, however, expected to opt for electronic transmission, since that is what they have been fighting for.

Beside this, the Senate also mandated all political parties to use the direct primary mode to pick candidates vying for different electoral positions.

FG’s Community Policing Kicks Off, As Buhari Approves N13billion

By
Ayodele Oni
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Nigeria Police

By Ayodele Oni

The Community Policing initiative of the Federal Government is set to take off as part of efforts to boost security nationwide.

President Mohamadu Buhari has announced the approval of the sum of N13.3billion for its take off.

The President disclosed this in Abuja at the opening of a two-day Mid-Term Ministerial Performance Review Retreat to assess progress made towards the achievement of the nine key priorities of his administration.

He stated: “We have, also, approved the sum of N13.3 billion for the take-off of the Community Policing initiative across the country, as part of measures adopted to consolidate efforts aimed at enhancing security nationwide.

“As part of the efforts towards strengthening our national security, we have increased investments in arms, weapons and other necessary equipment; expanded the National Command and Control Centre to nineteen states of the Federation; and established a Nigerian Police Trust Fund, which would significantly improve funding for the Nigeria Police Force.”

He further told the two day retreat that the Ministry of Defence has been instructed to create a modest military-industrial complex for the local production of weapons to meet some of the requirements of the country’s armed forces.

The establishment of the industrial complex, he said would address Nigeria’s over-dependence on other countries for military equipment and logistics.

The project is being implemented under the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), a military department responsible for arms manufacture.

On other efforts to strengthen national security, Buhari said it was gratifying to note that Nigeria had received six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.

He said the propeller-driven aircraft are being used for training, surveillance and attack by the military.

BREAKING: Terrorists Invade Kaduna Catholic Seminary

By
Uche Mbah
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Unknown Gunmen

By Uche Mbah

Reports indicate that terrorists invaded St. Albert the Great Institute of Philosophy, a Catholic-run major seminary in the Fayit community in Kagoma Chiefdom, Jama’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Monday night, at about 8 pm.

On entering the school, they started shooting sporadically. Reported eyewitness accounts indicate they operated for over an hour.

No security agent came to the rescue of the school.

It was the local hunters and vigilante groups that finally came to the rescue to drive away the criminals.

As at press time, it was not clear yet the number of casualties, though there were fears that some students may have been abducted, killed, or wounded.

No official reaction has been forthcoming as it was difficult to contact them.

Details later…

Bank CEOs Must Declare Their Assets, EFCC Insists

By
Bayo Bernard
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Abdulrasheed Bawa

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Abdulrasheed Bawa, the executive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has insisted that chief executives of commercial banks must declare that assets, despite subtle resistance from those concerned. The EFCC boss said the directive was not meant to witch-hunt anyone, but necessary to prevent another banking meltdown in the country.

Bawa disclosed this, on Monday, at the opening session of a capacity-building workshop organized by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC for the law enforcement agencies in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The anti-graft agency boss had on assumption of office in May this year, issued a statement directing bank CEOs to declare their assets, saying that it was necessary for them to do so, in other to promote financial transparency, adding that its directive was in conformity with Section 1 of the Bank Employees, ETC. (Declaration of Assets) Act 1986.

Bawa said then in the statement said, ”We are doing our best to ensure that this country is free of financial crimes. We understood that the tail end of every financial crime is for the criminal to have access to the funds that he or she has illegitimately gotten, and we’re worried about the roles of financial institutions.

”We hope that all financial institutions, particularly the bankers, will declare their assets as provided for by the law, in accordance with the Bank Employees Declaration of Asset Act. And that the EFCC, come June 1, 2021, will be demanding for this asset declaration forms, filled by the bankers so that the line that we have drawn from the first of June is really complied with by bankers in particular.”

“Section 1 of the Bank Employees, ETC. (Declaration of Assets) Act 1986 makes it mandatory for every employee of a bank to make full disclosure of assets upon employment, and annually in subsequent years.

‘’The law under Section 7 (1) stipulates that it shall be an offence for an employee of a bank to own assets in excess of his legitimate known and provable income. The penalty for violation of the Act as spelt out in section 7 (2) includes imprisonment for a term of ten years.

‘’Any employee guilty of an offence under subsection (1) of this section shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for ten years and shall, in addition, forfeit the excess or its equivalent in money to the Federal Government,’’ Bawa said.

Speaking again on the issue yesterday, the EFCC boss said it will press ahead to implement the directive despite resistance by those concerned. He, however, stated that the Commission was not particularly after any CEO, adding that the measure became important in other to rid the financial sector of corruption.

According to him, “I recall that upon assumption of office, one of the major pronouncements I made was giving a directive to bankers to declare their assets before June 1, 2021.

“It is obvious that those who kicked or are still kicking against the directive are ignorant of the unmistakable details of the Bank Employees Declaration of Assets Act.

“The nation cannot afford to go through another serious crisis in the banking sector, and this explains the constant intervention by the EFCC.”

In 2010, many commercial bank CEOs were sacked and later charged to court by then Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi over mismanagement of customers deposits.

Discordant Tunes In Ondo Over Planned Return Of Ex Gov Mimiko To PDP

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The reactions have been sharp, laced with anger, as news filtered that former Governor of Ondo state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko plans to lead some of his former Aides back to the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).

Since Monday morning when the social media flashed the report, there have been mixed responses, especially from notable members of the party in the state.

One of the PDP Chieftains, Mr Bode Obanla, in his reaction traced the genesis of the former Governor’s foray into the politics of Ondo state.

Obanla concluded that Dr Mimiko’s membership of the PDP in the past has been a disaster to the party and vowed to challenge his present return in court.

“In the last few days, the only talking point of Ondo State politics has been the rumoured return of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, former Governor of Ondo State  to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), a party founded by him, and  in which he is national leader.

“Ordinarily, it would have been a thing of joy for a person of Mimiko’s experience and pedigree to join the PDP, but considering his antecedents in the party, l wait for him to officially join the party before l take the necessary legal actions to protect our great party from suffering harm from him, like in the past.

“It is also a measure to strengthen our democracy in the face of nomadic politicians, whose conscience is so fluid that, they can be found in a political party in the morning and change to another by the evening of the same day.

“Interestingly, the 2017 PDP Constitution (as Amended) envisaged situations of this nature and had made adequate provisions. In chapter 2, section 8 subsection 17, the Constitution states expressly that  “A person who has earlier decamped from the Party, but later decides to return to the Party shall lose the seniority and privileges conferred on him by his previous status”.

“This is the part of our Constitution l intend to give effect to through a competent Court of jurisdiction.

“Perhaps, it might be necessary to briefly x-ray the activities of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and how it had affected the PDP that has necessitated my actions as a loyal PDP member.

“In 2003, shortly before the Governorship Elections, Mimiko joined the PDP. His first request was the Deputy Governorship slot which had been ceeded to Otunba Omolade Oluwateru.

“As compensation, Dr. Olusegun Agagu announced Mimiko’s appointment as Secretary to Government, from the Akure Sports Complex inauguration ground on May 29, 2003.

“Thus becoming the first political appointee of a party he just joined after abandoning the Alliance for Democracy (AD) Government of Chief Adebayo Adefarati.

“When Chief (Mrs) Mobolaji Osomo, was dropped as a Federal Minister, Dr. Mimiko replaced her in 2005 as Minister of Housing.

“The magnanimity of the PDP did not discourage him from quitting the party. He floated the Labour Party (LP) in 2007 under which platform he dealt the most devastating blow on the PDP.

“The Court of Appeal, sitting in Benin gave victory to Mimiko and the LP at the Governorship Elections ending the six years reign of Dr. Agagu as Governor.

“The truth is that, the PDP has never been the same  in Ondo State since 2009 when he, Mimiko, became Governor.

“Before the end of his eight year tenure as Governor, Mimiko manipulated himself back to the PDP in 2014. This was when he went for the final kill of the party.

“As sitting Governor, he caused the entire PDP structures from Ward to the State to be dissolved and installed his loyalists as party executives.

“While, he literally hijacked the party structures, he never allowed any PDP member to be part of the State government as against what was agreed as part of the merger.

“The 2015 general elections where he promised to deliver 2 million votes for former President Goodluck Jonathan, became a calamity as the PDP lost miserably in Ondo State.

Many major stakeholders who were frustrated with his antics left the party for him.

“This was the situation before the 2016 Governorship Elections. We did not need a soothsayer to know that the PDP vehicle was no longer capable of winning any election the way we were- badly fractured and disorientated.

“Having led the PDP to its  catastrophic outing, Mimiko now left the PDP to float ZLP, a party under which platform he contested Senatorial Elections in 2019. He lost to the PDP candidate Senator Ayo Akinyelure.

“This is the background to the Mimiko and the PDP story in Ondo State. I will save myself the details of Agboola Ajayi, the ZLP Governorship candidate in the 2020 Election who is aboard the Mimiko return flight.

“As long as effect is given to the provision of our Constitution, l have no qualms with their return to the PDP family. The more the merrier.”

Another party chieftain, Mr Oluwasomi Sunday, simply put it that “Mimiko has nothing to offer Ondo State PDP.

He continued “So Mimiko is coming back to destroy this party again?

“In 2006 he left the party and dismantled it to the root. For 8 years we struggled to get ourselves together, till today we haven’t recovered from his devilish act against us.

“In our 2020 governoship election, Dr Mimiko stood solidly against us and made sure we lost the election. We will never forget his activities against us in the election.

“This party needs to beg this man not to return to our party again, we have had enough of him, his coming back won’t add any value to us.”

However, another reaction from Mr Segun O. simply welcomed the Defection saying “Political parties are not prison yards, there are room for free entry and free exit especially in Naija.

“There are vehicles used by politicians to actualize one political aspirations or the other and no Single individual can lay claim to the ownership of any party.”

We Cannot Eradicate Poverty, But We Can Check It – Uzodinma

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodinmma on Poverty2

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has expressed gratitude to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for extending its Economic Revitalization Support Programme to the State, noting that Imo citizens are enterprising.

Governor Uzodimma said this  on Monday, October 11, at the Concorde Hotel Owerri, in his special remarks at the official launch of the UNDP’s Economic Revitalization Support Programme for Imo and Aba States.

The Governor explained that the programme was important because it was taking place at a time Imo State has lost a lot as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that brought businesses to their knees, left so many people dead,  got government challenged and brought about a spike in the number of Orphanage Homes in the State.

Governor Uzodimma said though it is “not easy to eradicate poverty” it is also possible to check poverty so that it does not become cancerous.

He said though his government had put in place measures to check poverty and high rate of vulnerability of the people, the intervention of the UNDP in the State will go a long way in providing direction for the army of youths yearning for what to do as well as encourage women inclusion in the socio-economic scheme of things.

The Governor reminded the UNDP that Imo State has a teeming youth community that are both enterprising and innovative but who require some encouragement to unleash their full potentials.

Governor Uzodimma therefore advised the organizers of the Programme to “be painstaking in identifying those who are truly vulnerable,” noting that “if the programme is religiously implemented it will go a long way in meeting the expectations of the UNDP.”

“Work to ensure that the original objective of the programme is achieved. Follow the rules and the programme the way it has been designed. Those involved in the implementation should ensure that it is done in the way it has been designed because the money to be disbursed seems a lot to the real vulnerable ones.”

However, Governor Uzodimma used the opportunity of the event to remind Imo people that another lesson and probably the greatest lesson to be learnt from the event is that the world cannot wait for Imo State on programmes designed to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic because they chose to stay at home.

His words: “Our people must understand what others are doing globally as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our case is not peculiar. We must shun acts that will discourage partners from intervening in our situation. When you kill the economy you are committing murder. The truth is that the world is moving without Imo.

“We are not created to be poor even though the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Imo State has the highest unemployment rate in Nigeria. We are enterprising people and do not have begging mentality. What UNDP has done for us will go a long way in further unearthing the enterprise and innovation in our people and encourage them to do more for them.”

In her key note remarks, the UNDP Regional Bureau Director, Ms. Ahuna Eziakonwa thanked Governor Uzodimma for hosting the programme and for remembering to include so many women in his government.

She said the UNDP was keen on partnering with Imo to ensure that the youths and women benefit from the intervention and also, to ensure that businesses stay alive.

Earlier, UNDP Resident Representative, Mohammed Yahya spoke in the same vein and on the need to eradicate poverty in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular.

The Special Adviser to Governor Uzodimma on Sustainable Development Goals and Focal Person, NSIPs, Princess Christina Ude had welcomed the delegates and wished them a successful outing. She also thanked the Governor for his passion in fighting poverty and diseases through his numerous social intervention programmes.

The highpoint of the event was the presentation of a UNDP symbolic Cheque of One hundred and ninety-five million, two hundred and twenty-five Naira only to the Governor by Ms Eziakonwa for the would be beneficiaries of the programme.

CP Okolo Takes Over Bayelsa Police Command

By
The Source
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Usman Alkali Baba- IGP

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the posting of CP Ben Nebolisa Okolo, fdc to Bayelsa State as the new Commissioner of Police (CP) in-charge of the State. CP Okolo takes over from CP Echeng E. Echeng earlier redeployed to the Anambra State Police Command.

Okolo, a fellow of the National Defence College, hails from Onitsha in Anambra State. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Political Science from the University of Nigeria Nsukka.

According to a Press Release by Force Spokespersons, CP Frank Mba, Okolo is a Cop with vast experiences in policing and community safety, and  has held key positions within the Force cutting across administration, criminal investigations, operations, amongst others. He previously served as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Force Intelligence Bureau, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit and the Head of IGP Monitoring Unit, amongst other positions. He has also attended several leadership and professional courses within and outside Nigeria including the Tactical Command Course at the Police Staff College, Jos, Strategic and Management Training Course at the INTERPOL Headquarters, France.

The IGP has charged the new CP to bring his wealth of experience to bear in advancing the gains in crime prevention and public safety in Bayelsa State. The IGP equally enjoined Bayelsans to accord the new Commissioner of Police maximum cooperation to enable him succeed in his assignment.

His posting is with immediate effect.

Izombe Tragedy: Uzodimma vows to fish out culprits, To set up Panel of Inquiry

By
The Source
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0
Hope Uzodimma

Pained by the killing of security operatives and extensive destruction of property at Izombe in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State at the weekend, Governor Hope Uzodimma has vowed that the perpetrators of the mayhem would be unmasked and brought to justice.

According to a statement by his Media Adviser/ Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku, the Governor has, also, promised that Government will set up a Panel of Inquiry that will look into the immediate and remote causes of the crises and make recommendations that will help stop further occurrence.

Addressing newsmen on Monday in the company of Military and Police authorities, the Governor expressed dismay over the ugly incident, particularly a situation where bandits confronted the Military Patrol, burnt their vehicle, abducted and killed two soldiers, and made away with their riffles.

“The recent happenings have brought to the fore the earlier State’s directive that anybody, no matter how highly placed, who is in possession of any weapon should return it to the Security Agencies.”

Governor Uzodimma said: “Regrettably the time given for such had elapsed. Therefore, anybody still keeping any weapon runs the risk of being arrested and prosecuted and made to face the full weight of the law.”

He warned: “Government will go out to fully implement that directive and ensure that all bandits no matter where they are, are discovered and brought to book.”

Governor Uzodimma said it is no longer pardonable for the people or group of persons to take laws into their hands, regretting that banditry, violence, kidnapping and other forms of crime and criminality have been on the increase since the jail break in Owerrri that saw criminals melt into the streets.

“The evidence of their activities is manifested in what happened at Izombe Community where one of those who confronted the military was an escapee from Owerri Prisons. Fortunately or otherwise, the hoodlum was killed by the soldiers in the confrontation.”

The Governor sent his condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers and statesmen who died in the mayhem in the course of service to their fatherland and assured that their sudden death will not be allowed to go in vain.

He reiterated that Government will do all within its powers to support the security agencies, no matter what it will cost, to ensure peace fully returns to Imo State.

Governor Uzodimma also promised to visit Izombe Community to get first hand information of what transpired with a view to setting up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the causes and effects of what transpired.

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