The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, on Monday formally inaugurated a six-member judicial commission of Inquiry with a charge to unmask the identities of persons behind the violence that swept across the state before and during the inconclusive governorship election.
Curiously, Dickson also asked the commission to extend its inquiries into all the secret cult-related and extra-judicial killings that occurred in the state from 2007 to 2011.
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, the major opponent of Dickson in the election, was the governor of the state during the period.
The governor inaugurated the commission in the executive chamber of the Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.
In attendance were his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd); the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson; Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff and other government officials.
The Chief Registrar of the Customary Court of Appeal, Mr. David Opokuma, administered oaths of office and allegiance on members of the commission including the Chairperson of the panel and former acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Margaret Akpomieme.
The governor described the inauguration as a simple but solemn event, saying it was the first commission of inquiry established by his administration.