IMPLEMENT OPUTA PANEL REPORT, DIYA TELLS JONATHAN

Former Chief of General Staff, Lt. General Oladipo Diya (rtd) yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to implement the Oputa panel report that made startling findings on past wrong doings with recommendations on what should be done to correct the mistakes of the past.
Diya was one of the people recently granted state pardon along with former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha by President Jonathan. His name was also said to have featured on the list of some military officers earlier granted state pardon by the administration of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar in 1998.

Speaking at a press conference held at his Ikeja home on the state of the nation, Diya said: “I want to thank the president for his kind gesture and to appeal to him to publish and implement the Oputa Panel report. This was a panel set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria with state fund and a report was submitted on it. A lot of findings and recommendations were made most especially on the phantom coups of 1995 and 1997.”
Diya made a reference to a similar panel that was set up in South Africa, known as Truth and Reconciliation Committee. The implementation of the committee, he said, contributed tremendously in stabilising and putting the country through the path of growth.
While promising to devote the rest of his life to seek the unity and progress of Nigeria, Diya expressed gratitude to the past and present Inspectors General of Police that have on their own volition been providing him with security whenever he was going to any event.
He was full of gratitude for the pardon granted all those involved in the 1997 coup saga, adding that he will never regret serving in the administration of General Sani Abacha because it was a government that brought together the best brains in the country. Diya said he has forgiven all those who roped him into the 1997 phantom coup.

Source: Sun