Aregbesola Swears In OSSIEC Members, Says Rule of Law, Cornerstone Of Democracy

Staff September 26, 2013

The Governor of The State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday said that the Rule of Law still remains the corner stone of Democracy.
He made the Observation while swearing in the 7 man- Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) led by Mr. Oladunjoye Segun Oladitan in his office in Osogbo.
Other members of the commission include Alhaji Kazeem Olayiwola Olatunji, Engr. Oluwole Abiola Adeyemo, Mrs. Abosede Olayemi Omibeku, Mr. Ade Awobiyi, Mr. Olugungun Dauda Omoleke and Mr. Sunday Oyeniran
Aregbesola said that it took the administration a long time before it could inaugurate the Commission because it felt it should obey Court order.
The governor who noted that it was a court of competent jurisdiction which removed those who were serving at the commission before the inception of his administration.
He averred that his government needed to demonstrate its commitment to good governance which explains why it abided by the injunction of the court on the removal of the previous OSSIEC members.
According to him, “the process we are observing today took us this long because we felt that we must obey every bit of court decision, it was the court who removed former members, then we held our peace and waited.
“When we came on board, there was a motion holding us back until it was vacated. We felt that having waited, we thought it wise that this is the right time to do what we have done to the benefit of our people.” The governor told the audience at the inauguration ceremony.
Aregbesola charged the newly sworn in Commissioners to conduct a referendum on the planned new Local Governments by the executive which will be sent to the House of Assembly for approval.
He revealed that if the proposal of the newly proposed local government is approved by the House of Assembly, the commission will be saddled with conducting its first election in the state.
“The first assignment before you is to conduct the first ever process of determining the opinion of our people on the Local government that we will be providing through the House of Assembly, very soon our proposal will be made to the House of Assembly after which we will go to the elections.
“We pray to God to give you and members of the Commission the capacity to discharge your duties without fear or favour.” The governor stressed.
In his response, the Chairman of OSSIEC, Mr. Oladunjoye  Segun Oladitan noted that he and members of the Commission have a duty to be fair to everybody it will come across in the discharge of their duties.
He also revealed that under his chairmanship of OSSIEC, all political parties are equal and that the Commission will be an unbiased umpire with the aspiration to raise the glory of Osun.
In Oladitan’s words, ” I have a duty to be fair to everybody, there are two ways in winning elections, it is either through the ballot boxes or tribunal, I have experienced this before. We are going to serve according to the law.
“We have our names to protect, it is because the present government has respect for the Rule of Law, that is why we have accepted to serve. We have a duty that the state must be stable so all political party before this OSSIEC is equal. We are going to be unbiased in our dealings.” The Chairman pointed out.