Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called on historians to avoid distortion of facts to prevent communal conflicts.
Adeleke spoke at Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, on Tuesday, at the methodology workshop with the theme: “Cutting Edge Knowledge Production for 21st Historians and Diplomats.”
The workshop was organized by the Historical Society of Nigeria, in collaboration with 12 universities in South-West Nigeria.
The governor, who was represented by a commissioner in the Osun Teaching Service Commission, Dr. Abioye Oyewusi, linked the recent communal clashes that ravaged Ifon, llobu and Erin Osun to distortion of facts.
He challenged historians not to allow bias and to always safeguard facts.
“We have had issues of communal clashes in the last couple of days. History lets the fact speak for itself.
“The best anyone can do is to narrate but a lot of historical facts are being distorted.
“The communal crises that happened in Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun are about distortion of facts. Facts should not be distorted on any account.
“As historians and future diplomats, I enjoin us, let’s always side with facts. No matter how we are emotionally attached to the subject, we should not allow the facts to be distorted,” he said.
The governor said Africans were culturally and emotionally attached to the land, adding that this was the reason for the incessant land crisis across communities.
“Part of the problem regarding the land issue is that in our view as Africans, we are culturally and emotionally attached to land.
“But when culture and emotional attachment to land become weaponized, it becomes a problem,” Adeleke said.
Proffering a solution, the governor said the current cycle of violence would be addressed through the Osun State Security Trust Fund.
The Vice-Chancellor of Adeleke University, Prof Solomon Adebola, identified historians as key players in social transformation and sustainable development.
He, therefore, urged them to live up to expectations and contribute their quota to the peace and development of the country.
The chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Dr. Mary Lewu, said the workshop would explore the diverse approaches and techniques that shaped understanding of history.
In their separate remarks, the South West Vice President of the Historical Society of Nigeria, Dr. Fidelis Egbe, and the Chairman of the Governing Council, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof ‘Siyan Oyeweso, commended the host institution and called for proper documentation of historical events to make them reliable tools for future use.
Participants for the workshop were drawn from Adeleke University, Federal University of Education, Oyo, Ajayi Crowther University, Babcock University, Bowen University, Fountain University, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Kola Daisi University, Obafemi Awolowo University, McPherson University, Osun State University and Redeemers University.
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