Governor Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, inaugurated the Oyo State Anti-corruption Agency (OYACA) with a mandate to be unsparing and swift in investigating and prosecuting persons fingered for corrupt acts.
Bemoaning the endemic nature of corruption, Makinde warned that, henceforth, a person working in any capacity within the state’s public or government officials who accepts or promises to simply accept money, fees, donations, loans, gifts for rendering a service to members of the general public are going to be investigated and made to face the complete wrath of the law.
Speaking at the inauguration held at Governor’s Office, Ibadan, Makinde urged residents of the state to refrain from offering or giving bribes to any public officer to render service, albeit they insist, but report such officers.
He said, “We want to make sure that folks perform their responsibilities without institutionalised corruption in Oyo State. we’ll be lying to ourselves if we don’t acknowledge the endemic corruption during this system.
“So, with this inauguration of the Oyo state Anti-corruption Agency (OYACA), we are sending out a transparent message. We are sending out a transparent message that we’ve intolerance for corruption in Oyo State.
“It will not be business as was common . Public/civil servants are called to serve to not steal. I trust that members of the Oyo State Anti-corruption Agency will do beat their power to make sure that each one matters delivered to their attention are judiciously handled.
“There are to be no sacred cows. Anyone who runs foul of this law are going to be prosecuted swiftly.
“I urge the great people of Oyo State to refrain from offering bribes and to refuse to offer bribes to any public officer albeit they enforce it. we’ve numerous channels to report such misconduct and there’ll be more channels.
“For now, use our feedback channels to form a report against any public officer who is involved in corruption, including me. Report me to the agency.
“Yes, I even have immunity and should not attend jail but I promise that i will be able to face you for any report that involves you regarding me. i will be able to come and defend myself.”
He maintained that the intention behind fixing the anti-corruption agency wasn’t to witch hunt but to make sure that state’s public/civil service becomes renowned for intolerance for corruption.
Whether a member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or All Progressives Congress (APC), he noted that each one fingered for corruption are going to be invited to account for his or her actions or inactions.
He told members of the agency that, “It has nothing to try to to with politics. it’s not PDP or APC and you’re to not be wont to witch hunt anybody. Corruption doesn’t know APC or PDP. it’ll just destroy the material of our society.
“Let our people on the opposite side know that we’ll just ask them to account for his or her stewardship if there’s need for that and if they are going to town to mention we are being witch-hunted, they’re going to prove their innocence within the law court.”
In her remarks, chairman of OYACA, Justice Eni Esan, who may be a former president of the state Customary Court of Appeal, assured that the agency will do its best to help the government in sanitising the general public service.
Other members of the state anti-corruption agency inaugurated are Mr Temitope Ayorinde, Prince Oyebade Oyedepo, Mr A. S. Ashaolu, Mrs Esther Olopade, Ehindero Lawrence and Oyemola Tijani as secretary of the agency.
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Corruption has eaten so deep into the very fabric of the Nigerian system has a whole that, except some sever punitive measures are put in place, it can’t be corrected.