Alaafin wants traditional rulers to police LG bosses
From YINKA FABOWALE, Ibadan
Monday, February 8, 2010

Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has stressed the importance of involving traditional rulers in the monitoring of activities of council chairmen to ensure adequate provision of amenities and judicious utilization of their funds.

The royal father spoke against the backdrop of the suspension of three council chairmen in the state by the State House of Assembly for alleged maladministration and financial impropriety
Among the complaints against the council bosses is that some of the projects they executed were poorly done, while the contractual costs were bloated beyond expectation.

But speaking to newsmen on the appraisal of the activities of the Chairman, Atiba Local Government, in his domain, Oba Adeyemi said traditional rulers in every community should endeavour to periodically tour and monitor the activities of the councils, being the closest to the grassroots for the benefit of their people.

“I had caused the Oyomesi (traditional kingmakers) to go round the Atiba with video recordings, which they brought back to me, and I assessed. I saw most of the good works already done.
Alaafin commended the council chairman, Prince Akeem Adeyemi, who was recently honoured by Havard University and given a certificate of achievement in health management upon the inspection carried out by the United Nations Organization (UNO) on eight maternity centres he constructed in different areas of the council.

The monarch, however, advised the council boss not to rest on his oars, but to keep up the developmental drive. His words: “I have told the council chairman, Prince Akeem Adeyemi, to construct the Oke Olola to Sakutu Road which is now impassable by vehicles. The proposal on the 1.5 km road has been sent to Governor Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala for approval.

“This is what we have been ensuring in the other councils around Oyo town. If traditional rulers in other towns could be going round, monitoring the activities of their councils, commending them on the good things they have done, while goading them on what they have not done, financial impropriety and maladministration will be reduced to the barest minimum.
“I suggest that the government should encourage this and empower the traditional rulers to undertake such local policing role.”