16th May, 2011
The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akinolu, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for setting up a panel to investigate the post-election violence.
He gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ijebu-Ode.
Akinolu who was at the inauguration of a multi-million Naira extension project of the Awujale of Ijebuland’s palace said the move was in the right direction.
“The outcome of the investigation by the panel will enable government to know the cause of the violence and prevent future re-occurrence,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the post-election violence had claimed many lives, including those of 10 corps members in Bauchi state.
Akinolu berated those who described the setting up of the panel as illegal.
“Those who say the setting up of the panel to investigate the crisis is illegal are not saying the right thing. Whenever crisis happen, it is important to know what led to it so that government can find a solution to it.
“My stand is that the perpetrators of the violence should be unmasked and punished according to the law. It is criminal and against the will of God for anyone to kill his fellow human being,†he said.
Akinolu who described the killing of the 10 corps members as unfortunate however said scrapping the NYSC scheme was not necessary.
The monarch explained that government should rather ensure more security for the corps members wherever they are posted.
“The scrapping of NYSC is not necessary. What happened to the corps members was an unfortunate incident.
“I will advise the federal government to ensure more security for the corps members and also work towards a national security policy, suggested by the National Security Adviser,†he said.