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Tag: ARG

  • ARG congratulates Akinrinade

    The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has congratulated Lt. General Alani Akinrinade, who is 80 today.

    The group described him as “a military-democrat, and soldier of democracy and civil liberties.

    “The group noted that, Akinrinade was an ambassador of democracy in the military, who secured the Second Republic as the Chief of Defence Staff under President Shehu Shagari.

    It said he was never tempted to overthrow the civilian administration.

    ARG in a statement by its National Chairman, Wale Oshun, recalled how the fire of democracy burning in Akinrinade propelled him to participate in the activities of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which fought for the restoration of democracy.

    Oshun described Akinrinade as a foremost patriot and nation-builder who from his youth had been fighting for the unity, stability and transformation of Nigeria. He said: “As a Yoruba, Afenifere is proud of having Akinrinade as one of our illustrious ambassadors to the Nigeria Project both as a serving soldier and as a front line statesman he is today.”

    He added: “Akinrinade is a beacon of integrity, an embodiment of the whole and ever shinning Yoruba culture and values which have continued to stand him out as first among equals, an achiever that both his juniors, peers and even seniors keep seeing as a mentor and as a model provoking them to higher heights. Every where he goes, everything he does and everything he says, he radiates and emits the salient, inherent and innate Yoruba Omoluwabi which appears to have made him almost faultless in everything.”

    Oshin commended the Osun State-born officer for his un-waiving commitment to the emancipation of the Yoruba nation and cultural values, especially his support to the Yoruba Academy and the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN).

    Akinrinade was born on October 3, 1939 in Yakoyo near Ile-Ife and schooled in Offa Grammar School, now in Kwara State before enlisting in the Nigerian Army in 1960..

    He was at various times Ministers of Transport, Industries and Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Resources.

    Before he was appointed Chief of Defence Staff in 1980, he had served as the Chief of Army Staff.

  • ARG lauds peaceful polls

    Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) yesterday congratulated Yoruba people for peaceful conduct during the general elections.

    In a statement, the group said: “ARG affirms its support of the right of the people to elect whomsoever they wish as their constitutionally approved leader in a peaceful manner.

    ARG thank community leaders, particularly our royal fathers, for working ceaselessly to minimise conflict, while noting also the few reported violence in Oyo State, especially. We must continuously strengthen the foundation of law and order as the unique selling point of our region.

    “The murder of Hon. Temitope Olatoye blights our pride as a democratic people. We totally condemn it and therefore call on all designated authorities to ensure that justice is done.

    It added: “ARG congratulate all elected Governors and legislators for national and state legislatures for being found worthy of people’s trust and charge them to live by the mantra of “freedom for all, life more abundant”.

    “We enjoin them, as the custodian of people’s peaceful mandates, to entrench deeper the culture of peaceful coexistence and work collaboratively for regional integration.”

     

  • Fayemi, Akeredolu light up Ekiti as ARG marks Awo’s birthday

    Fayemi, Akeredolu light up Ekiti as ARG marks Awo’s birthday

    •APC ’ll restore Awo’s legacies after July 14 poll, says minister

    Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, came alive yesterday as progressives under the aegis of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) celebrated the posthumous birthday of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    Minister of Mines and Steel Development Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, led a cast of political stalwarts, who came to celebrate the day with local progressives.

    They told a crowd of audience who thronged Eagle Hall, Ikere Road, Ajebamidele, Ado-Ekiti, that all Yorubas must sustain the ideals of Awolowo, which made the Southwest to stand out as a beacon of development.

    Members of ARG, All Progressives Congress (APC) and their admirers had earlier in the day staged a public walk to mark Awolowo’s 109th birthday from Okeyinmi Roundabout to Ajebamidele, venue of the public lecture in a carnival-like fashion.

    Fayemi used the occasion to sound a battle cry that the APC was poised to win back Ekiti State in the July 14 governorship election and implement the four cardinal policies of Awolowo, which was in operation when the progressives were in power.

    The former Ekiti State governor regretted that the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has obliterated the four cardinal policies, which include free education, free health services for children, pregnant women, aged, job creation and rural growth.

    The minister, whose rumoured governorship ambition has been trending for the past few months, said the July 14 election represents a good opportunity to return the APC to power to restore the Awo-inspired legacies for the good of the people Fayemi said: “If we remember, for the past 11 years (since 2007), we have been celebrating Awolowo s birthday. What is most important is that those of us behind whom God has given the opportunity to lead, must pay our dues and help our people in Yoruba land.

    “Awolowo has done a great deal and that is why we are celebrating him since he died in 1987. He is still being celebrated in Ikenne today like we are doing in Ekiti.

    “Pa (Ayo) Fasanmi once told me that Awolowo wished he had been born in Ekiti because then his largest followers were from Ekiti and he knew everyone in the state.

    “If he was alive today, he would have been in APC as his political party. This is because this party was founded on Awo’s political ideals. We are Awolowo’s descendants in Ekiti.

    “We know Awolowo for what we call four cardinal points, from the days of the Action Group (AG) and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) – these are: free education, free healthcare for children, pregnant, old and disabled, job creation and rural development.

    “If you remember, all these points were what we ensured when we were in power in Ekiti; sadly they are no more in the state.

    “In conclusion, don’t let us not lose hope, just like Governor Akeredolu has said, all these ideals of Awo, we will ensure we do all we could to return them to Ekiti.

    “I appreciate the ARG for celebrating late sage Awolowo. In truth, all of us who are of Yoruba race, it is high time we took up our role as leaders. We are the leaders of the black race.”

    Akeredolu, who was chairman of the occasion, said the APC is the party that still promotes Awo’s legacies, noting that the first Premier of the Western Region was being celebrated for pioneering the development of his race.

    He said: “We are celebrating what Awolowo stood for, which is the advancement of the Yoruba and African race. Ours is pureness of heart. Awolowo has played his part. It remains us to play ours.

    “We cannot all forget the immense contribution of Awolowo, especially among the Yoruba race. Afenifere song was composed by Awolowo. The song says that we the Yorubas are the light of the black race. May God not allow us to draw ourselves backwards.

    “When Awolowo was incarcerated in those days, Hubert Ogunde counselled us to have a rethink in his popular song ‘Yoruba Ronu.’

    “Celebrating Awo’s legacy would make us remember the great contribution of our great forbears. I urge all Yorubas to have a rethink and reunite. We must all work together for our progress.”

    ARG National Chairman Hon. Wale Oshun urged the people of Ekiti State to vote APC at the next governorship election, describing the party as “the baby of Afenifere”.

    Oshun, who was represented by an ARG leader, Mr. Ayo Afolabi, said the body would work hard to ensure that Awo’s legacies remain alive, adding that the Yoruba would continue to celebrate the late political legend.

    Oshun said: “Every society reveres it forbears. We all talk about Awolowo. His works shall not perish. We are here to celebrate Awolowo so we won’t forget his legacies.

    “APC is the party that we the Afenifere have embraced. It is the party that can assist the Yoruba race to the promise land. We enjoin all people to vote for the party in Ekiti.”

    A guest lecturer at the event, Prof. Alade Fawole, regretted that many of the contemporary political office seekers lack germane ideas to lead because they haven’t groomed themselves by reading and getting exposed to ideas that would make them better leaders.

    Fawole, in his lecture titled: “Obafemi Awolowo and transformative politics:

    Sustaining the worthy legacy,” urged politicians to emulate Awolowo by developing ideas that would change the society for better.

     

  • Terror attacks: ARG urges govts to do more

    Terror attacks: ARG urges govts to do more

    The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has urged government at all levels to improve security of life and property across the country to forestall further terror attacks.

    In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary Kunle Famoriyo, ARG said it read the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s disclosure about the various deployments of troops to various flashpoints across the country to curb herders and farmers violent encounters.

    The statement added: “ARG welcomes the deployments and hopes it is the beginning of several more steps that needed to be taken to completely forestall needless terror, the enormity of which was captured by the Global Terrorism Index (2017).”

    Quoting the global report, ARG said: “Between 2010 and 2016, deaths from Fulani extremists resulted in more than 3,000 deaths across four (African) countries, with 92 per cent of fatalities taking place in Nigeria.”

    It said: “Both the Boko Haram and herdsmen militia are two terrors casting shadows of death over Nigeria and government at all levels must respond adequately, through approaches that simultaneously deal effectively with the terrorists and also address the underlying triggers of conflict.

    “…We want to suggest the following for urgent consideration of the federal and state governments.

    “First, there should be an executive order declaring an amnesty window for all arms-bearing herders, farmers and other terrorists wherever they may be found in our country. After the deadline, anyone caught anywhere with arms should be arrested and prosecuted under the Terrorism Act. Without an initiative like this, no positive or sustainable peace can be fostered.

    “Second, all Houses of Assembly should make digital animal identification statutory as there is no part of the country today that is strange to the use of GSM technology. If all herds are digitally identifiable, clashes between farmers and herders and rustling might be largely controlled, if not eliminated. Such identification technology will also facilitate Nigerian livestock farmers for meat export business.

    “Third, the Federal Government has exclusive legislative responsibility for immigration and border control matters; hence, the time has come for effective and sustained border control, with the claim that the criminal herdsmen are from other lands determined to subvert Nigeria’s sovereignty and dominate indigenous Nigerians.

    “Fourth, for the sake of repetition, it is worth saying again that the time has come to end open grazing in Nigeria, and respective legislative houses, particularly in the Southwest, should act accordingly.

    “Lastly, we hope the Federal Government has realised the need to urgently restructure Nigeria by unbundling the Exclusive Legislative List. Who would have thought that less than five years after ‘Chibok,’ we would have ‘Dapchi’ to contend with? The folly of kicking against True Federalism matters, like state police, is the needless loss of young Nigerian lives. We cannot, like the ostrich, continue to bury our heads in the sand.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Halt herdsmen attack, ARG tells Southwest governors

    Halt herdsmen attack, ARG tells Southwest governors

    The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), has urged Southwest governors to protect their states against herdsmen attacks.

    It advised the governors to find a lasting solution to the mayhem herdsmen have been causing in the region.

    A statement yesterday in Lagos by ARG Chairman Olawale Oshun said: “Yoruba governors must now come together to find a lasting solution to the marauding herdsmen. They are now causing mayhem in Ekiti, Ondo and Ogun states, and we need not wait until they overrun all our territories before waking from our slumber.

    “Two months ago, we had cause to alert all the Yoruba governors and their governments on the need to be pro-active to the Fulani herdsmen’s potential to overrun parts of the Southwest in the purported but false search for food for their cattle.

    “We had, in seeking that our governors pay attention to the unfolding herdsmen drama, been worried by their silence, a silence that in many quarters of Yoruba land is now interpreted as self-serving and cowardly.

    “Now that the birds have come home to roost with real attacks in at least three of the states, it is hoped that our governors would see the need to be prepared to prevent further unwarranted attack on our people by a terrorist group though widely disclaimed by the nationality they belong to but emboldened by the callous indifference of those who have the power to intervene.

    “We are Nigerians and we want a united country. It is the responsibility of all nationalities that comprise Nigeria to keep it united. While we share in that responsibility, we, as Yoruba, must be conscious of our responsibility to ourselves and to the nation.”

    The ARG called “on all elected officials in our domain to wake up to their responsibilities. To do otherwise is to court historical and electoral disaster”.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Tinubu hails Afenifere leader, says no automatic ticket for Buhari

    Tinubu hails Afenifere leader, says no automatic ticket for Buhari

    The 14 -year old friction among Yoruba leaders which led to a crack in the pan Yoruba-group, Afenifere with the carving out of the parallel

    Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) was on Wednesday resolved following a private meeting between the National Leader of the All Progressives

    Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

     The meeting held behind closed doors at Chief Fasoranti’s residence had in attendance,some Yoruba leaders including the former APC

    Interim National Chairman,Chiefs Bisi Akande,Olu Falae, Femi Alike and Baba Omojola and others.

    Speaking with reporters shortly after the meeting, the former Lagos State governor acknowledged the leadership virtues of Fasoranti to the

    unity of Yoruba land.
    He described the Octogenarian as ‘a great leader of Omoluabi,who has remained a leader right from his youth.
    While speaking on the move by some APC governors to give automatic ticket to President Muhammad Bulgari for second term in 2019, Tinubu said “we have not heard about that and the party spokesman has not said that” .
    “No governor can appropriate the power of endorsement  to themselves.
    According to him”Buhari is a believer in  process,the Buhari I know believes in rule of law.We wanted him even before  the last convention and primaries of the party and Akeredolu is here standing with me,he was not the governor then.
    “He was one of the leading delegates that  voted properly and Buhari was a clear winner.
    “We follow all the constitutional provision and an individual opinion does not matter at this stage
    The former governor said Buhari would want a normal process , saying”Buhari that know,who says he will lose at any convention?
    However, he said if the National body,the National Executive Committee(NEC)party members endorsed him as our single  candidate, we will not be violating the  Independent National Electoral Commission((INEC)  regulations.
    Tinubu added that members would not also violate the APC constitution, saying “what you are hearing is just a campaign
    According to him,Buhari has not excluded anybody,and affect the ambition of any individual.
    He said”I am in Akure to acknowledge the leadership of Pa Fasoranti in our own race,as a great leader of the omoluwabi and in his evening.
    “We want him to be happy ,he has been a great leader in his youth and day child. His intellectual is still very intact.I seek his advice,  his understanding and prayers and ,that is why I am here”.
    In his response, Fasoranti said he was excited on the visit of Tinubu, describing the development as sign of good things to come to Yoruba nation.
    He said”the coming together of Yoruba leaders is an indication of great thing to come in the land. With this, there will be a great understanding which will hasten unity and development in Yoruba land”.
    Fasoranti described Tinubu as a leader in his own right, describing his visit as a welcome development.
    The APC National leader who arrived Akure Airport around 12 noon was received by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, State Executive Council (SEC) members and Party Stalwarts across the state.
  • ARG backs calls for restructuring, state police

    ARG backs calls for restructuring, state police

    The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) yesterday backed calls for restructuring to save the country from a looming implosion following cries of marginalisation and separatist’s agitations.

    ARG’s Chairman Olawale Oshun made the group’s position known in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at a Town Hall Dialogue with the theme: “State of the nation: A conversation with ARG Leadership and Yoruba Intelligentsia.”

    Oshun said Nigeria must do away with the unitary government shrouded in a veil of federalism, where the Federal Government controls majority of  the resources to the disadvantage of the federating units.

    He added that only those profiting from the flawed federal structure being operated in Nigeria would oppose calls for restructuring, stressing that were the  late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to be alive today to observe the fate that has befallen Yorubaland, he would surely weep over it.

    “The over-bearing power of the Federal Government is killing the states and local governments. States are incapacitated, they should be allowed to control their resources to develop themselves instead of being tied to the apron strip of the Federal Government.

    “Everything is collapsing because everybody solely depends on what is coming from the Federal Government to survive and if we don’t restructure, we will continue to remain where we are today.

    “Those who are against restructuring are those who are benefitting from the rots in government. The Federal Government must cease to control resources of the states.

    “If Yoruba leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo and others were to be alive today to see what is happening to the Yoruba nation today, they will weep for us,” he said.

    He, however, advised Nigerians to go about the calls for restructuring peacefully,  saying the country must return to the regional government, where each region would develop at its own pace.

    According to him,  the Federal Government lacked the capacity to harness the country’s resources for its rapid socio-economic growth.

    “We need restructuring to progress and develop. The situation where the Federal Government will collect everything and beginning to give states small things to develop their states, we need to change from that. Regions should take care of their resources for their growth,” Oshun said.

    Also, a renowned columnist, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, urged  Yoruba nation to wake up from its slumber, declaring  that the race was living on past glory.

    Mrs. Ademola- Okateju, who was the  keynote speaker, noted that the Yoruba nation became the conscience of the country through education, but lamented that the region has now taken the back seat.

    Speaking on “The Knowledge of Now: Pathways for the Yoruba,” she said the education sector started witnessing setback after the discovery of oil in the 70s, noting that “Nigeria failed to plan for the future”.

    She blamed the electorate for encouraging the nation’s politicians to exploit them by selling their votes.

    “A society gets the kinds of leaders they deserve. Our electorate are responsible for the rots in the country today; they encourage our leaders to steal and exploit them by selling their votes to the highest bidder.

    “People are not responsible; they have refused to hold the leaders accountable. But rather, they sing-praise corrupt leaders because of financial gains,” she said.

     

     

     

     

     

    The Afenifere, a pan Yoruba socio- cultural organisation, also joined other Nigerians to demand for the restructuring of the federation, fair and equitable resource control and distribution, establishment of state police and reformation of the nation’s judiciary to enhance rapid development as well as stem the tide of all forms of agitations.

    Acting State Chairman, the Ogun State Chapter of Afenifere Otunba Kunle Makekodunmi made the group’s position known at their  meeting at the  Ogbo Ijebu- Ode country home of the Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, where Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Senator Ayo Otegbola among others were in attendance.

    The group mourned the passage of Mrs. Omowunmi Akande, wife of former Osun State Governor Chief Bisi Akande, by observing a minute silence for the peaceful repose of her soul.

  • ARG seeks acceptable constitution for sustainable nationhood

    THE Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has hailedActing PresidentYemiOsinbajo for the recent interventions he is making towards calming frayed nerves and dousing tension in the polity.

    ARG Publicity SecretaryKunleFamoriyo, in a statement yesterday, said while the group prayed Osinbajo succeeds in dousing the tension, he added that “remaining a single entity is not the contentious aspect of Nigeria’s nationhood”.

    He emphasised the need to reach a consensus about a constitution that will guarantee the inalienable rights of social justice and political freedom for every Nigerian, irrespective of ethnic or religious inclination.

    The statement reads: “Perhaps, this is the first time in the history of Nigeria that we are witnessing such sincere confrontation of social malady through dialogue and democratic means. Before now, government would play the ostrich until the rising temperature hit the roof and then deploy armed forces.

    “We note however the Acting President’s statement that ‘we have all agreed that Nigeria should remain one’ and we recall the late Chief Bola Ige, who noted that ‘there are two basic questions that must be answered by all Nigerians. One, do we want to remain as one country? Two, if the answer is yes, under what conditions?’

    “Therefore, while we pray Osinbajo succeeds in dousing current tension, it is important to note that remaining a single entity is not the contentious aspect of Nigeria’s nationhood. Where the task of building a sustainable nationhood begins is the second question, which has remained unaddressed for the past five decades.

    “Answering this question bothers on reaching a consensus about a Constitution that will  guarantee the inalienable rights of social justice and political freedom for every Nigerian, irrespective of ethnic or religious inclination. The 1999 Constitution, which was smuggled in as the condition for Nigeria’s existence, is nothing more than the consummation of attempts to institutionalise the tools of social injustice and discrimination in Nigeria and therefore has to be replaced.

    “This is the only condition that can catapult Nigeria from its current ranking of high (red) alert to sustainable democracies like Finland. We hope Nigeria can quickly achieve this feat and set example for other African countries as the entire continent does not look good on the Fragile State Index.

    “We want to say that the Southwest does not need any consultative meeting with the Acting President as is being demanded in some quarters. Yoruba people are never the agitators and our aspirations have never lacked clarity since late Chief Obafemi Awolowo published ‘Path to Nigerian Freedom’ in 1947.

    “We, however, charge governors of the Southwest states to be alive to their responsibilities by constantly taking in the changing political dynamics of the nation such that their decisions and acts ensure the welfare, wellbeing, and security of people in their jurisdictions.”

  • Southwest governors, ARG, others pay tributes to DAWN Chief Famakinwa

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, led dignitaries yesterday in paying tributes to the late Director General of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Mr Dipo Famakinwa.
    Famakinwa died on April 21 after a brief illness.
    He was 49.
    At the Day of Tributes organised for the deceased in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, Ajimobi described Famakinwa as a diligent man who understood and delivered on his mandate with a great passion.
    The programme was organised by Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), the DAWN Commission and the Yoruba Academy.
    The governor said the deceased made outstanding impact on the Yoruba nation.
    He said the diligence and passion with which he worked for the development of Yoruba land and Nigeria stood him out as one who took his duty as a divine assignment for his generation.
    Ajimobi said: “Famakinwa lived a short but remarkable life… He understood his assignment as a divine duty unto his generation. He not only took the job seriously but put his whole heart into it.”
    Ajimobi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Olalekan Ali, promised that the Oyo State Government and its good people would remain faithful to his “fervent desires for a rapidly transformed Yorubaland.”
    He added: “We shall follow through on our agreed roadmap and by building the DAWN Commission into a truly empowered think-tank and regional development powerhouse. With the support of my brother governors in the Southwest of Nigeria, your visionary spirit shall be kept alive as a guide post on our journey into freedom and prosperity.”
    Amosun, who was also represented by his Commissioner for Integration, Mr Adeife, extolled Famakinwa’s virtues. He said the deceased used everything in him to sell the DAWN idea to everyone that cared to listen, adding that succeeded in introducing programmes that help the development of the Southwest region.
    Amosun also hailed his doggedness and dedication to the assignment of regional integration, which he said he did until death came visiting.
    The Chairman, ARG, Hon. Olawale Oshun, who traced the origin of the commission and how Famakinwa was chosen to lead it as the first DG said: “The main story was that the governors at inception allowed the dreamers and the fashioners of the Integration vision to nominate a suitable person to fill the all important position of the first Director General of the Commission. Afenifere Renewal Group had no difficulty in settling for Dipo Famakinwa, for he and one other member availed us of their immense brain boxes, and minded no deprivation as too enormous to suffer in the processes leading to the crafting and marketing of what later turned out to be christened the Integration Commission.
    “As soon as the Southwest governors (including Olusegun Mimiko, Kayode Fayemi and Babatunde Fashola) bought into the project and ultimately authorized one of them, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to inaugurate on their behalf the DAWN Technical Committee on June 21, 2012, Dipo hit the ground running. The Technical Committee which was to serve as the Board for the Commission comprised of one representative from each of the six states and three nominees from Afenifere Renewal Group, one of whom was Dipo Famakinwa as the Director General. He established within a short while the required bureaucracy and facilitated an enduring relationship with national and international agencies all in the pursuit of the development agenda of Yoruba people within and without Nigeria.
    “I have had no doubt in my mind that Dipo had only one mission, which was to deliver a developed and integrated Western Nigeria, totally focused on deepening the economic indices of growth, while engaging to advantage the diversities that bestride culture and socio-political differences of his Yoruba people. I have seen him at work, and I have had cause to suggest to him to slow down a bit. It is as if he knew his time would be short.
    “We in Afenifere Renewal Group thank God for his life, even if we had wondered loudly now, why God had let it be this short. Only the Almighty God has the answer to that. We pledge however that we will support the various state governments in all they need to do to ensure that the integration commission in Western Nigeria moves from strength to strength. No price will be too high for us to pay to ensure that Dipo’s work and legacy would not be wasted. That much we owe him.
    Sleep well, Dipo and goodnight.”

    In his tribute, the Executive Director of the Yoruba Academy, Dr Ade Adeagbo, said there are four ways to find Famakinwa, who he emphasized was not death but lost.
    According to him, the ways are to continue the agitation for true federalism, sustain the drive for integration, develop the Yorubaness (the identity of Yoruba as a people) to become an international philosophy of human nature and also continue to promote the concept of ‘omoluabi’ which he says must be the “fundamental value that defines essence of humanity.”
    Adeagbo emphasized that in pursuing the four goals, Famakinwa would always be found.
    The representative of the Department for International Development (DFID), Mr Ifeanyi Peters-Ugwokwe, hailed Famakinwa’s passion, dedication and zeal for regional development. Describing him as a strategic thinker, Peters-Ugwokwe said there would not have been a better person to lead the commission.
    The Group Managing Director, Odu’a Investments Ltd, Mr Adewale Raji, commended Famakinwa for personally working hard to make the dream of accommodating Lagos as a co-owner of Odu’a a reality. He described him as a dogged fighter and visionary leader.
    His deputy at DAWN, Mr Seye Oyeleye, said “Famakinwa loved his job passionately, the socio economic development of our Region was his life, and he felt that he owed it a duty to make sure that the team at DAWN delivers on what we termed Brand New West.”
    Reflecting on his leadership acumen, Oyeleye said: “As the team leader at DAWN, he was not your typical boss, far from it. His office doors were permanently open and anyone, including our cleaners, will walk up to him on one issue or another. Dipo was the boss who will have his boli and epa on his table and some of our young staff will go and share it with him. He was the leader who will come to your desk no matter your position and ask for your views on any particular matter. Dipo will call me at extremely odd hours constantly asking for opinion before taking decisions and even when I tell him you are the DG you sort it out, he will say I didn’t make a mistake when I asked you to join me at DAWN( I joined a few months before it took off ). That was Dipo, the quintessential team player. He successfully created a family atmosphere at the office and this bond was extremely crucial when in 2015 and part of 2016 we went through financially challenging times, he successfully planted the passion for change in SW Nigeria in all the staff through his transparency, forthrightness and empathy, with Dipo what you see is what you get.”
    The deceased daughter, Miss Abisola Famakinwa, moved guests into tears as she gave the vote of thanks.
    She described her father as a hardworking man who also spared a good time for his family. Seeing her father in photographs with top men and women in the society, Abisola said his life confirmed the biblical statement that diligentbpeople stand before king’s and not before mean men.

    She said she was overwhelmed by the tributes to her father and declared: “I know my dad was great but I did not know he was this great. I am really proud of him. He was very hard working and determined.”
    At the programme were others members of the ARG family including Mr Kunle Famoriyo and Mr Ayo Afolabi. Others are commissioners from Oyo, Ogun and Osun states, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Dr Tunji Olaopa, Otunba Deji Osibogun, Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin and Mr Taiwo Obe.

  • Dipo Famakinwa’s death a huge loss – ARG

    Dipo Famakinwa’s death a huge loss – ARG

    •Aregbesola, Ajimobi mourn late DAWN Commission boss
    •He recalled before death how family, friends forced him to take vacation

    The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has expressed shock over the death of pioneer Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, (DAWN) Commission, Dipo Famakinwa.

    The ARG which midwifed the DAWN Commission described Famakinwa’s  death as a huge loss to the group, the southwest region, and Yoruba people. Until his death, Famakinwa was a key member of the group.

    In a  statement jointly signed by ARG Chairman – Hon. Olawale Oshun and Secretary – Chief Ayo Afolabi, the group said: “The DAWN Agenda may have remained a document on the shelves, like many of such in Nigeria but Famakinwa, following the adoption of the Commission by the Southwest Governors, worked hard to give life to it and nurtured the seed to a blossoming tree that is now the model and go-to place as far as regional integration in Nigeria is concerned.”

    “The renewed fervour by Southwest States regarding regional integration and cooperation, which has led to smooth cooperation among Southwest Governors, is largely due to the work put in by the DAWN Commission under Famakinwa’s leadership.

    “We take solace in the fact that he has written his name in the golden pages of our history. We in ARG and millions of other Yoruba people across the world will not forget his contributions to the development of our people.”

    The deceased in a post on his Facebook Page last month, shared  how his family members and friends had forced him to take a vacation because they felt he was working too hard: “The year started for my colleagues and I on a high note. Everything was running at a frenzy. Then close people started telling me that I was working too hard and needed to slow down. In my opinion, it’s early in the year and not a good time for vacation.

    “I kept running at high steam, and then the conspiracy started. My wife managed to recruit my friend, who is also a colleague, and my Executive Assistant into the plot. Even my daughter!

    “They started making arrangements to send me away, without my knowledge. When my wife finally told me, I resisted. She put me under a lot of pressure, but I refused. My colleagues also did the same, I ignored them.”

    Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola and his Oyo Senator Abiola Ajimobi have also expressed shock over his death.

    In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola said: “We are left speechless with this sudden loss. Famakinwa has been very dogged in the pursuit of that assignment given to him. He was committed wholeheartedly to the progress of the Yoruba. Through the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, we have moved to accelerate regional revolutionary growth to rediscover our strength as a people of common heritage through agriculture, culture, education, and even sports development.”

    In a  statement by his Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy to the governor, Mr.Yomi Layinka, Ajimobi described the deceased as a fine gentleman committed to the integration of the Southwest and adoption of a regional common agenda, the governor said that his death had left a gaping hole that would be difficult to fill.

    Ajimobi said, “The enigma called Death has again cut short the life of one of our shining stars. I’m still in shock, because when we attended the last meeting together, I never had an inkling that I was seeing him for the last time.”