State of the nation: Strong institutions way out of corruption- Makinde
Governor Seyi makinde of Oyo State, yesterday, noted that building strong institutions would checkmate corruption and other corrupt practices in the country.
The governor said this at the inauguration of the seven-man Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency, OYACA, chaired by the former president of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Eni-Esan (retd), at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Agodi in Ibadan.
While decrying the endemic level of corruption in Nigeria and its effects on the economy, which has hindered the country’s development, Governor Makinde noted that what is killing the country is systematic and institutionalized corruption.
He said, “I must maintain that for us to build a Nigeria we dream of, we must create strong systems and institutions, we must take sacrifices for the institutions to function well.
“With the inauguration of the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency, i am sending a clear signal that in Oyo State, we have zero tolerance for corruption.
“This law is primarily directed at sanitizing the public/civil service by ensuring both public and civil servants in the state and at the local government levels carry out their responsibilities without institutionalizing corruption.
“So, any person elected, employed or engaged in any capacity, who accepts or promises to accept money or any other reward for rendering service to members of the public will be investigated and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“It will no longer be business as usual. Public/civil servants are called to serve, not to steal. The goal is to ensure that Oyo State public/civil service becomes the benchmark for the entire country.
“Let me also say that it has nothing to do with politics. It is not PDP or APC and you are not to be used to witch-hunt anybody. Corruption does not know PDP or APC”.
