BY GBENGA OLARINOYE
OSOGBO — The main opposition party in Osun State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has faulted Governor Rauf Aregbesola, for setting up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to try alleged cases of Human Rights violations in the state since 2003 till date.

Specifically, the PDP rejected the composition of the commission headed by Justice Samson Uwaifo (rtd) which is expected to begin its sitting in Osogbo today.

Addressing newsmen yesterday, the acting State chairman of PDP, Otunba Sunday Ojo-Williams, stated that in as much as the party did not see anything bad in genuine truth reconciliation, the period chosen was an error.

According to PDP, genuine reconciliation should “start from May 29, 1999 when former Governor Bisi Akande hold sway in the state. Every one in this state knows that you cannot overlook the gross human rights violations of  the four years of Bisi Aknade- administration and claim you are searching for truth and reconciliation”

“We call on the ACN government, if it is genuinely interested in truth and reconciliation to extend the mandate at the commission to cover Bisi Akande’s years,” the party added.

The party stressed that a probe into Akande’s years in the state “will give voice to the anguish of thousands of widows, widowers, orphans and destitutes created by the inglorious mass sack of workers by the government”

The party also condemned the composition of the committee, saying members are either friends or associates of governor Aregbesola.

For the commission to be able to discharge its duties without fear or favour, the party suggested that the commission should be headed either by Justice Muhammed Uwais or Justice Alfa Belgore both former chief justices of the federation, while other members should include representatives of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Medical Association, Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The party also expressed reservation on the creation of jobs for 20,000 youths under Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) saying there was an ulterior motive behind the scheme.

“If indeed, the jobs to be given thse recruited revolve round maintaining the environment and generate revenue for the state, why do they need military training?” the party queried.