Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Rasaq Adeosun, says collaboration between the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and traditional rulers in the state will bring to an end the act of giving chieftaincy titles to corrupt people.
Adeosun said honouring people of questionable character with chieftaincy titles would mean that the royal fathers were also rewarding corruption.
He spoke on the sidelines of a one-day dialogue with traditional rulers, religious leaders and community-based organisations on national ethics and integrity policy, organised by the ICPC in Osogbo, Osun State.
He said, “For instance in the past, you hear of chieftaincy titles being given to even ritualists, people who are conspicuously corrupt getting chieftaincy titles.
“Now that they (traditional rulers) are collaborating with ICPC, they are able to understand the manic that is involved in attitude of giving chieftaincy title to people who should not be allowed even in the community. So the collaboration with traditional rulers will, in a way, allow that ethics to penetrate their subjects.
“If their subjects know that they will not be honoured for doing what is wrong, definitely they also will back out. That is the essence of bringing in traditional rulers, so that their subjects, citizens, high and mighty will know it is not business as usual.”
In his welcome address, the ICPC Osun Resident Commissioner, Demola Bakare, explained that the dialogue was intended to create awareness of the need for a behavioral reorientation that would culminate in the culture of positive national values towards engendering the desired change in the society.
Besides, Bakare said the traditional rulers would also help to further propagate the anti-corruption crusade in their communities.
