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Tag: Dipo Famakinwa

  • Restructuring: Ajimobi, Akintola, others harp on

    Stakeholders including students, scholars, members of the academic community, socio-cultural groups, traditional leaders, policymakers, government functionaries, community leaders, trade groups and artisans among others from the southwest states on Friday scaled up their agitations and clamour for the restructuring of the country in the interest of development.

    The event christened the first edition of the Biennial Dipo Famakinwa Colloquium, organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Yoruba Academy and Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) held at the House of Chiefs, Parliamentary Building, Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

    The biennial event which seeks to immortalise Famakinwa’s vision and ideas on the development and adoption of a common regional agenda is with the theme, “Restructuring: Ending the talk and starting the walk.”

    Famakinwa was the pioneer director- general of the Western Nigeria regional governmental policy think tank, christened DAWN Commission, died April 21, 2017, after serving the commission for four years.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state in his short remarks at the event described late Famakinwa’s contribution to the strategic and tactical rethink of western Nigeria as instructive and pivotal, noting that paying tribute to and sustaining the memory and good work of such an individual is fundamentally apt.

    According to Governor Ajimobi, restructuring within the context of a united federation of Nigeria, democratic processes should be built around such fundamental values as sovereignty of the people; respect for human rights, equal political, social and economic opportunities for all citizens, equity, justice and fair play as ethical values of politics and national unity as well as transparency and accountability as the basis of governance.

    He said, “These values are non-negotiable and form the bedrock of nation-building. For these values to be given expression in the Nigerian nation, the structural defects and deficiencies of the construct of the nation must be addressed as expressed by popular consensus of the people through:

    “Renegotiation of Nigerian Federal nation; organizing for regional actions; mobilization of regional endowments and assets; optimizing the space for development through the regions to achieving sustainable growth in Nigeria; fiscal federalism and decentralization of Nigeria.

    “Most Yoruba people want a Nigeria that operates as a properly managed modern country, a land of order, law, freedom, justice, progress, science, technology, opportunity, competitiveness, productivity and prosperity- the kind of country that all Yoruba people desire and want.”

    A legal luminary, Niyi Akintola in his remarks noted that restructuring is the mantra of an average Southwesterner, expressing certainty that the present federal structure cannot sustain the county for another 25years.

    He said, “For those that still believe so much in the corporate existence of Nigeria,  we should know that the present structure cannot sustain this country for another 25 years. It is totally impossible. The world is already becoming a neighbourhood and its no more a global village.

    “Nigeria is the only federation in the world with unitary police, even the State of Britain that is unitary in form has many formations and organisations. In the United States, as at the last count, they have more than 78,000 police formations, including universities. Each higher institution in the United States has police formation, recognised by the state.

    “Restructuring is the mantra of an average south westerner. I know that the present structure cannot sustain the county for another 25years.  We need to give the DAWN commission every support. When late Bola Ige was advocating for integration, we never knew the country would ever be in this state. He who wants peace must be ready for war. We will not take another neo-colonialism from anybody. This country will not move forward unless we restructure.

    “The Nigerian governance structure is oppressive. The only language understood by the oppressor is confrontation. Therefore, to achieve restructuring, we must be ready for appropriate confrontation. A structured way to achieve restructuring agenda is by strengthening regional integration. Southwest state governors should give greater support to DAWN Commission.”

    Other speakers at the event noted that the region has been unfairly shortchanged with a structure that allows other regions to hold it back in terms of the speed of development and progress before the military interregnum.

    Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General, DAWN Commission, Mr. Seye Oyeleye noted that the event was to celebrate the late Famakinwa’s devoted energy in the last 7-8 years to what is today known as DAWN commission.

    He said the effort, which he described as an all-inclusive was to take the subject of restructuring from mere talks to acting in a way that all the stakeholders will be able to express their views and understand what it meant.

    Widow of late DG, Mrs. Ibironke Famakinwa appreciated the DAWN Commission for honouring the husband by holding on to the effort he committed so much energy and time in the interest of the region. She urged the organisers to sustain the fight until the integration and unity of the region is achieved in the interest of the present and future generation.

    Some of the dignitaries at the event include, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, General Secretary, Afenifere Renewal Group, Ayo Afolabi, Dr. Bolaji Ogunseye, Rtd Major Gen Sam Odunsi, Dr. Charles Akindiji Akinola, Alh. Lai Oyeduntan, Mr Tokunbo Ajasin and Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo.

    Others are, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, Mrs Yemi Alabi, Mrs. Adeyinka Bello, Baale of Makoko, Barr. Adekunle Olaiya.

     

  • DAWN boss Famakinwa buried in Lagos

    The late Director –General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), Mr. Dipo Famakinwa, was buried in Lagos on Friday amidst tears by family members and other sympathisers.

    Famakinwa was buried at the Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens after a funeral service held at the Chapel of Christ the Light Church, Alausa, Ikeja.

    The interment was witnessed by the wife and children of Famakinwa, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, retired AIG Tunji Alapini as well as friends and colleagues of the deceased.

    Paying tributes to the late DAWN chief, Ajimobi expressed sadness that one of the brightest, dutiful and committed citizens of the South Western part of Nigeria has gone.

    The governor had last week described the death of Famakinwa as a rude shock and a loss too much to bear.

    “The energetic young man was always prepared to sacrifice his time, expertise and resources to ensure the integration of the South West.

    “He was a rallying point for all the stakeholders in the south west developmental agenda.

    “He has left us when his wealth of experience is still much treasured,’’ the governor said.

    Famakinwa died in a Lagos hospital on April 21 after a brief illness.

    NAN

  • For Dipo Famakinwa

    As the Senior Special Assistant (SSA), Research & Documentation, to former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, the lot fell on me to treat and recommend proposals to the governor who would also send same to me for advice.

    One of the proposals sent to me and the SSA, Policy and Strategy, Dr. Femi Akinola, by the governor for advice was about a retreat on good governance and ethics for  Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants, which was later held at Royal Park Hotel, Iloko, Osun State.

    It was this proposal that brought Dipo and I together. I remember that Dr. Akinola and I invited him to a meeting in my office to defend his proposal before we wrote our recommendation to the governor.

    During and after the assignment, Dipo also became very fond of me. We used to exchange messages and calls. Shortly after the Iloko workshop, he came to Ekiti again to see Governor Fayemi about regional integration of the South-west states for economic development. He hinted me that he had told the governor he wanted me to be involved in the project as a member of the Technical Committee.

    The 24-member Technical Committee on Regional Integration of the South West was inaugurated by Governor Kayode Fayemi on June 21, 2012 in Ado-Ekiti with members drawn from Ekiti, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Ondo states. This was after an earlier resolution at the July 8, 2011 meeting of governors of seven states of Western Nigeria where they agreed to collaborate on the issue of cooperation and integration of the region and to constitute a technical committee to drive the agenda.

    I was appointed as a member from Ekiti State with the then Commissioner for Integration becoming an automatic member. Later, Biodun Oyebanji as the Head of Office of Transformation became an active member and we travelled together many times to attend meetings and events connected with the scheme.

    Considering his pedigree, undying passion for the development of South-west states and the efforts he had put in kick-starting the development agenda in conjunction with then Governor Fayemi, it was not difficult to convince his colleague governors that Dipo was the man  to drive the agenda.

    Subsequently, Dipo Famakinwa became the Director- General of the regional integration project and immediately embarked on the production of a roadmap to achieving the agenda, which culminated in the production of the document which is today known as the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN).

    Before the DAWN document was produced, Biodun Oyebanji, Dr. Femi Akinola, Adewale Adeoye and I travelled with Dipo and others to all the state capitals in the South-west and met the governors except Akure in Ondo State because Governor Segun Mimiko was lukewarm to the idea.

    Dipo Famakinwa was a bundle of energy, focused, steadfast, a workaholic and a goal-getter. I didn’t know what it meant to be a member of the technical committee when I agreed with Dipo until I discovered the job involved when I was chosen as the “emergency” secretary of the technical committee.

    We usually held our meetings in the night till the wee hours of the morning in the state capitals.  I was responsible for taking notes and documenting all resolutions agreed at our numerous nocturnal meetings always held in the state capitals.

    Between 2012 and 2013, we met all the governors in the South-west, Kayode Fayemi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Isiaka Ajimobi, Ibikunle Amosun and Raji Fashola who made their inputs into the document. We also met all the Speakers of the Houses of Assembly in the South-west in Lagos. The Speakers assured us of legislative backing for the laudable initiative.

    While all were tired in our nocturnal meetings, Dipo would never sleep and would become the chief whip of the committee. Any suggestion to adjourn till the following day was usually rebuffed. Dipo would always argue that we must finish all items on the agenda because nobody was sure of tomorrow.

    My own case was worse because I had to take notes. Dipo presided over the meetings of the technical committee whose members were commissioners, Special Advisers and other top government officials in their respective states. Some of the active technical committee members I remember well are; Rev. Tunji Adebiyi, Mrs Ronke Sokefun, Dr. Bayo Ademodi, Mr. Deji Akinsola, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Mr. Biyi Oloko, Mrs Florence Oguntuase, Professor Dolapo Lufadeji and Mr. George Adedeji. It was interesting working with such eminent panel of distinguished Yoruba personalities.

    We finally produced the final document after rigorous meetings and editing of the document by a body of experts.

    I was always afraid to visit Dipo at the Cocoa House office of the commission in Ibadan  because I knew he would “arrest” me with an assignment which I might find difficult   to turn down because of the tremendous respect I had for him and the vision of the DAWN I shared with him.

    Going through my laptop as I write this tribute, tears flow freely, dripping on my keyboard when I saw minutes of our meetings and how Dipo presided. My DG, as I fondly called him, was in a class of his own. Very cool, appreciative and always having an answer to any puzzle!

    One day, in apparent appreciation of my little contributions, he lapsed into a joke, saying: “I will tell Oga (Governor Fayemi) that he should loan you to us at the Commission and if he refuses, we may have to kidnap you.”

    Two weeks ago, I learnt about Dipo’s ailment through Fayemi, Minister for Mines and Steel Development. When he sensed my fear and anxiety, he said it was nothing to worry about, assuring me that Dipo would be fine. He hinted that he had concluded arrangement with some governors in the region to fly him out for treatment. I was relieved when I heard that but it was short-lived.

    Barely three days after the minister’s assurance that Dipo would be well, news of his death hit me like a thunderbolt. To say I was devastated is an understatement. I froze like a man who sees a snake on his bed when my brother called me and broke the sad news. I broke down and wept.

    A thoroughbred omoluabi with an uncanny understanding of people at first encounter, Dipo was such a nice guy who also had a fine notion of honour, integrity and valour.

    He was not one of those human beings who deliberately do wrongs and count those wrongs as part of human conducts. He was patient to a fault even in the face of provocation and ever courageous in the face of adversity.

    Dipo’s death is very painful but we cannot query God. I am comforted with the fact that Dipo lived a good life and died pursuing a noble cause: the development of Southwest states.

    I’m also comforted with the words of Socrates; “No one knows if death may be the greatest good and hence if someone fears death, they are making an error.”

    I pray God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and accept what they cannot change. To the members of the Technical Committee of the DAWN Commission, I commiserate with all of us for the sad loss of our Director-General.

    The only way to honour Dipo in death is for the South-west governors to ensure the full implementation of the DAWN document, which Dipo lived and died for.

    Adieu Dipo Famakinwa!

     

    • Jamiu was a member of the Technical Committee of the DAWN Commission.
  • Adeleke was a grassroots politician – Tinubu

    Adeleke was a grassroots politician – Tinubu

    Former Lagos State Gov. Bola Tinubu, has described late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, as a grassroots politician with rich political background.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), National Leader in a condolence message issued on Sunday in Lagos, said that the leadership and good counsel of Adeleke were still very much required when death came.

    Adeleke, 62, also a former governor of Osun, died in the early hours of Sunday at a private hospital in Osogbo.

    ”I received the news of Senator Isiaka Adeleke’s death with shock.

    ” It was too much to bear coming barely a day after that of Dipo Famakinwa. The news of his death was both sudden and saddening for me and I am sure for most members of our political family.

    ”Sen. Adeleke was a grassroots politician with a rich political back ground. He was hugely popular in his Osun , particularly in the three local governments in Ede, his hometown.

    ”He was a major leader of our party, the APC. His leadership and good counsel were still very much required when death came.

    ”The late senator and I shared mutual respect and affection. My path and his first crossed during the aborted Third Republic, in the 1992/93 era, when we both belonged to the defunct Social Democratic Party.

    He was in the Peoples Democratic Party at the rebirth of democratic dispensation in 1999, but he later joined us in the APC in the build-up to the 2015 election, ” he said.

    According to Tinubu, he left behind a legacy in the area of education by establishing Ire Polytechnic and College of Education, Esa-Oke, among other laudable things during his time.

    ”Adeleke was with us in Lagos during the colloquium marking my 65th birthday. He also joined us for the inauguration of Aboru-Abesan Link Bridge and adjoining roads constructed by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    ”I commiserate with his wife and children. I commiserate with the entire Adeleke family and his friends and numerous supporters.

    ”My heart also goes out to his brother, Dr Deji Adeleke. I mourn with Gov. Rauf Aregbesola and the people of Osun over this unfortunate occurrence.

    ”I pray that they all have the strength to withstand this loss. I also pray for the repose of Adeleke’s soul, ” Tinubu said.

  • Fayemi mourns Dipo Famakinwa’s death

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has commiserated with the family of Mr. Dipo Famakinwa, the Director General, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), who passed on Friday.

    Dr Fayemi, in a condolence message signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, described Famakinwa’s death as a devastating blow not only to his family, the DAWN Commission, but to the entire Yoruba.

    Fayemi said Famakinwa’s death was a colossal loss to the Southwest geo-political zone. He described the late Famakinwa as a first class Omoluabi with a first class brain and unassailable commitment to the socio-economic advancement of the region.

    “Famakinwa’s death at his prime is not only shocking and sad, it leaves many of us distraught and devastated,” Fayemi said, adding “for me, I lost a friend and brother. The region also lost an illustrious son, who was committed to its development till he breathed his last.”

    Fayemi described the late Famakinwa as a highly refined gentleman, a diligent worker and champion of the regional integration efforts of the states in the old western region, where he had made a mark through his astuteness.

    “He was a thorough-bred professional, a distinguished Omoluabi and a seasoned administrator, who ran excellently with the vision of the DAWN Commission, within the period he held the forte as the Director General.

    “Nigeria has, indeed, lost a star, a committed patriot who believed that the West and indeed the Nigerian nation could reclaim its socio-economic prosperity if the citizens would develop the right attitude to development and unite in their recovery and re-building efforts.

    “On behalf of my family, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the immediate and the extended families of the late patriot, and pray that God would grant his soul eternal rest even as He grant them the fortitude to bear the loss,” the statement added.

  • 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.”

  • DAWN DG Famakinwa dead

    DAWN DG Famakinwa dead

    The Director General of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) is Dipo Famakinwa is dead

    He died on Friday according to friends and relatives who confirmed his demise.

    Famakinwa’s work at DAWN involves coordinating and programme management agency of the regional integration agenda of the States of Western Nigeria, comprising Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States.

    “My role is to provide strategic insight and leadership towards delivering on the vision and mission of the Development Agenda,”  he stated in his Linkedin profile.

     

  • DAWN Commission holds conference

    In furtherance of its mandate to foster regional cooperation and build synergy of actions among all the States of Western Nigeria, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria with support from the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) Programme – Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), has concluded plans to stage it’s a three-day conference, tagged Southwest Governance Innovation Conference 2017: Sharing Practices that Work from the 20th – 23rd February 2017.

    The programme will bring together State actors, civil society groups, private sector players, the legislature, international development organisations and interested members of the public from across the Southwest States to interact and share innovative governance practices and experiences, especially those that are worthy of being replicated across all the States in the Region.

    Speaking at a press conference organised recently in Lagos, Director General, DAWN Commission, Dipo Famakinwa said that event, the will afford the Southwest States the opportunity to showcase their most successful reforms, encourage State-to-State networking, peer learning, stimulate collaborations, and encourage the adoption and replication of innovative practices by all the States.

    He noted that the primary rationale underscoring this Conference, therefore, is for our States to present game-changing State-level innovations and reforms that have been tested, and that have proven critical to the improvement of the effectiveness of the governance sector in their respective States.

    “We are also concerned about the deepening of systems and people capability in the delivery of public goods and services in different areas of Governance,” he said.

    He opined that central to the Conference is the desire by our various State Governments to approach innovation in governance in its most profound sense, with a stronger focus for devising new methodologies, creating new instruments, improving the capability of the public sector to support the aspirations of all the citizens, to improve the investment environment, build new skills and capability that would lead to achieving high levels of social and economic performances that meet the yearnings of all who interact with the public sector.

    He added that DAWN Commission is indeed committed to supporting the aspirations of our States to achieve excellence in governance, as well as building effective institutions, as we pursue the regional development agenda.

    Working with our various partners along this line and especially by signposting this aspiration with the convening of the Governance Innovations Conference 2017, we believe that our States are well on their way to re-energising the governance process for an optimum result in a manner that promotes and leverages the sharing and adoption of best practices.