Anti-Corruption: Alaafin expresses support for OYACA

…Says drive in sync with Old Oyo Mesi’s check and balance system

The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (111) has declared his support for the anti-corruption drive of Oyo State government, saying that the traditional council would do all within its reach to make the fight against corruption successful.

The foremost monarch said this on Thursday afternoon, when the Chairman, Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA), Honorable Justice Eni Esan (rtd), alongside board members and management of the agency paid him a visit at his palace in Oyo town.

The team was in Oyo to commence the sensitization and advocacy meeting with various stakeholders, in order to intimate residents of the four local government areas in Oyo zone of the mandates and activities of the agency.

Oba Adeyemi said the law and modalities of work of OYACA is in tandem with the old Oyo Mesi’s Check and Balance system, which made it possible in the olden days to check misuse of power by the ancient Alaafin, making him answerable to the people.

“The Oyo Empire is the longest empire with over 300 years of reign, longer than that of Songhai, Mali and Sudan empires, so the Oyo Mesi system was created to check the excesses of the Alaafin and they constitute the representation of the people of Oyo, which kept the Alaafin in check and made him answerable to the people, this exactly is the replication I have seen in the formation of OYACA by the Seyi Makinde government.

“This agency will go a long way to serve as check on those holding forth in government offices and to address wrongdoings by administrators, we are going to give our support to this agency and we assure you of success in this endeavor.”

The Chairman of OYACA, Honorable Justice Eni Esan (rtd) appreciated the Alaafin for his support for the agency, declaring that Oyo zone would have a zonal office of OYACA, among other five zones, where petitions and complaints would be submitted, for ease of transmission to the State headquarters.

She called on the residents who were victims of administrative actions or with information about corruption issues and actions by individuals to forward same to OYACA.

The sensitization and advocacy programme later held at Atiba Hall in Oyo town, where local government administrators from Atiba, Oyo East, Afijio and Oyo West local government areas, traditional rulers, civil societies, artisans, market men and women among others gathered for the event.

Justice Eni Itan said a zonal office of OYACA will be situated at Oyo among other five offices across the State while she gave out a phone number (08030671070) and the agency’s website (www.oyaca.ng) for residents to communicate easily and give information to the agency.

Speaking on behalf of the four local government Chairmen, the Atiba local government Chairman, Hon. Kolajo Kafilat and the Baale Ajagbe of Ajagbe Community appreciated the present administration in Oyo State for creating ways by which residents could contribute to governance.

They opined that OYACA would open ways for people to check the finances and spendings of those in public offices, thereby transparency and accountability.

However, the agency announced that the next port of call for the advocacy and sensitization for core stakeholders in the State is Ogbomoso on Tuesday 17th August, 2021.