EDITORIAL: Thumbs Up For Progressive Reforms

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HE appointment in 2022 of the highly regarded reformist Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the minister in charge of the country’s internal security mechanism it was regarded as an inspired choice. 

A life long progressive of the social democratic hue the choice signalled a commitment to reforms and impacting civilising values on a broken down system.

Aregbesola is well suited for the task. He had himself suffered injustice when a broken down system took as in forever to restore the mandate willingly bestowed on him by the electorate through the courts. This must have been instructive, a painful personal experience. 

It is therefore not surprising that at a recent review Aregbesola sensibly called for no more than a twelve months process between the arrests of the suspect and judicial adjudication. He is correct, anything else will be unacceptable in a democracy. The case for a holistic revamp of the criminal justice system is compelling as a matter of fact it is inescapable.

There is a lot more to be done. Admirable initiatives have been put in place to rehabilitate the offender, it is a delight to see some of them taking exams and graduating from inside correctional centers this thrust should continue. It is not just the right thrust it also provides safeguards and a stablising buffer for society.

The review is commendable and we wish the minister more vigour as he embarks on the last lap of his tenure in office.