BY GBENGA OLARINOYE
OSOGBO — Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission,  to inquire into the various cases of human rights abuses and public discontent in the state from June 1st, 2003 till date.

The Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, ruled the state between May 29, 2003 when Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola defeated former governor Bisi Akande of the then Alliance for Democracy, AD, till November 26, 2010 when the Appeal Court Ibadan nullified his election. The TRC is set up under Section 2(1) of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap 29, Laws of Osun State 2002, and has a period of one month to complete its assignment.

According to a statement by Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Director, Bureau of Communications & Strategy, Office of the Governor, “the purpose for such inquiry is public welfare. The mandate is to facilitate redress, promote reconciliation and prevent possible future re-occurrence”.

Some of the terms of reference of the commission include, to search for and identify in full the nature of the discontent in Osun State, to identify the grievances and the remote and immediate causes, which have given rise to and resulted in the acts of gross violation of human rights as well as attacks on persons and property in the state.

-To identify the person or persons, authorities, institutions or organizations which may be held accountable for such gross violations of human rights and determine the motives for the violations or abuses, the victims and circumstances thereof and the effect on such victims and the society generally of the atrocities.

-To determine whether such abuses or violations were the product of deliberate State policy or the policy of any of its organs or institutions or whether they arose from abuses by State officials of their office or whether they were acts of any political organizations, liberation movements or other group or individuals.

-To examine in detail the extent of the damage that has been done to the people and projects and also the degree of damage to peace and concord in the state; to examine and advise on the ways and means of bringing peace, amity and concord among all concerned.