TRUTH COMMISSION NOT TARGETED AT ANYBODY -AREGBESOLA
•Aregbesola
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, yesterday inaugurated the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) with a vow not to witch-hunt anybody.
The eight-member commission, which has retired Justice Samson Uwaifo as its chairman, was expected to look into all cases of human rights violation, violence and other related issues in the state between 2003 and November 26, 2010.
Members of the commission were sworn in yesterday by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olaniyi Ojo. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, which held at the state High Court complex, Osogbo, the governor urged them to be firm, fair, unsparing and courteous, saying only the guilty needed to be afraid.
'Let me assure all that this commission is not targeted at particular persons and is not an attempt to witch-hunt. It is meant to give every person that has been wronged an opportunity to seek redress and we are determined to follow that to its logical conclusion.
'The eminent members of this commission are too decent, upright and refined to be teleguided. The innocent therefore needs not to worry; it is the guilty that should be afraid. Our goal is to promote harmony and healthy relationship between groups, individuals and interests in the state through civilized approach,' the governor stated.
He recalled the ugly recent past in the state where 'people were denied the right to choose and democracy ceased being an instrument for the emancipation of the people,' saying the people of Osun State must not forget how they got to where they are presently, which he said was bedevilled with 'an antecedent of tears, sorrow and blood.'
Also the Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has urged the newly sworn in members of the Local Government Caretaker Committees in the state to steer clear of corruption. The governor gave the charge yesterday while swearing in the new executive of the caretaker committees amid fanfare and celebration. The inauguration of the committees came two months after the Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of the 30 local government areas in the state.
In a speech read on the governor's behalf by the state Deputy Governor, Otunba Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, the new council executives were admonished to conduct their affairs with integrity, truth and service to the people and in tune with the Omoluabi concept of the administration.. 'You will all recall we also had a re-branding campaign to give Osun State her true identity in the comity of Nigerian states. As part of your duties, you would be expected to manage this new perception that Osun State is now otherwise known and referred to as Ipinle Omoluabi, the governor stated.
He urged the new council chiefs to ensure that their private and public conducts 'are couched in integrity, hard work, transparency, resourcefulness, resilience and diligence.' More importantly, the governor charged the new local government bosses to accord top priority to resolving issues at the grassroots and take advantage of the opportunity of their coming into office to bring government to the people in a true, humane and in a responsible form.