Oyo Assembly cancels third anniversary celebration over insecurity concerns

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Oyo State House of Assembly has cancelled plans to hold elaborate activities to mark its third anniversary, citing growing security concerns in parts of the state.

The decision was announced during plenary on Thursday, with lawmakers expressing concern over the worsening security situation in the Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso zones, where residents have faced increasing threats to their safety.

Rather than proceed with celebrations, the assembly said it would focus on governance and support ongoing efforts aimed at addressing security challenges affecting communities across the state.

The 10th Oyo State House of Assembly, inaugurated on June 14, 2023, would have marked three years of legislative activities with a series of commemorative events before the plans were shelved.

Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin said the decision followed careful consideration of recent developments and reflected the assembly’s commitment to standing in solidarity with residents affected by insecurity.

According to him, the current situation demands empathy and responsible leadership, noting that it would be inappropriate to engage in celebrations while many communities continue to grapple with security concerns.

Ogundoyin, however, highlighted some of the Assembly’s achievements over the past three years, revealing that lawmakers had passed 36 bills into law covering critical areas of governance, development and public welfare. He added that the house had also adopted and transmitted 276 resolutions to the executive arm and relevant agencies for implementation.

The speaker further said the legislature had strengthened accountability through robust oversight functions and post-legislative scrutiny of key laws, including the Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law of 2019 and the Oyo State Security Agency Law of 2020. He added that the assembly had also intervened in security matters through stakeholder engagement and a security summit aimed at tackling persistent threats in parts of the state.