It blames the violence largely on a culture of impunity, political manipulation and unemployment.

The Nigerian Federal Government Investigation Panel on the 2011 Election Violence on Monday October 10 submitted its report to President Goodluck Jonathan in the capital, Abuja, with a warning that if the current social, economic and security situation in Nigeria is not quickly addressed, it could “escalate to social revolution,” reports The Guardian of Nigeria. The Chairman of the panel, Sheikh Ahmed Lemu, said for President Jonathan to do all that is required to take Nigeria away from spiralling violence, he will have to step on the toes of some powerful people and institutions. The report warns against the creation of private armies by desperate politicians.

The committee stated that “to allay fears of the recent undemocratic process of impeachment by selfish politicians that might emerge while the President is taking steps for positive changes in the society, we also recommend that the constitution be amended in such a way that impeachable offences should be subjected to judicial interpretation and the final verdict determined through a referendum by the same electorate who voted for the President of their choice.” Sheikh Ahmed added that Nigerians of high integrity and moral probity in every State should be identified for assignment of major responsibilities towards achieving positive change in the country.

“The first and probably the most important cause (of the post-election crises) is the failure on the part of successive regimes ... to implement the recommendations of various committees, commissions and panels that had taken place in our nation. That failure facilitated the wide spread sense of impunity in the culprits and perpetrators of crimes and violence in the Nigerian society. We recommend that you order security agencies to fish out culprits of violence for prosecution,” Lemu said.

According to the Nigerian Tribune, Sheik Ahmed Lemu also pointed out that issues of politics and not religion, were the root causes of the violence that led to the death of hundreds of people and the destruction of property worth billions of naira last April following the announcement of the presidential election result won by President Jonathan. “Ethno-religious sentiments were brought into the issue through negative campaigns and rumour mongering by unscrupulous individuals to achieve their ulterior motives,” he said. Responding, President Goodluck Jonathan promised to set up a committee to look into all recommendations – including past ones - and issue white papers. “Heavens will not fall. Until government has the political will and is encouraged to do what is right, no matter how painful it will be, the culture of impunity will continue,” THISDAY quoted him as saying.