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Tag: Southwest leaders

  • Southwest reiterates commitment to regional integration

    Southwest reiterates commitment to regional integration

    Southwest leaders yesterday resolved to pursue regional integration to foster prosperity across the six states.

    They also reiterated their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies and programmes, noting that a sound foundation is being laid for the future prosperity of the country.

    The regional think-tank, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), sought stronger collaboration with the governors towards the implementation of plans designed to make the geo-political region a model in Nigeria.

    It noted that only in an atmosphere of unity can the robust ideas be pulled together and deployed towards the development of the zone.

    According to the stakeholders, support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is crucial to the success of the reforms that have heralded economic stability and long-term prosperity.

    These resolutions were contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the two-day  Southwest Stakeholders’ Dialogue, organised by the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, the DAWN Commission, and Southwest Governors’ Forum, held in Akure, Ondo State.

    The theme of the conference was: “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future.”

    The event, which was held at the International Conference Centre (The DOME), Akure in Ondo State,  was attended by governors of the six Southwest states, traditional rulers, religious leaders, scholars, religious leaders, civil society groups, women and youth groups.

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    At yesterday’s session, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, disclosed that over N7 billion was generated from mining fees and approvals for private mineral-buying centres across the country between January and September 2025.

    He said Southwest has the highest contribution in the sector in the last nine months.

    Eminent cleric, retired Methodist Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu, who also spoke at the conference, urged Nigerians to cooperate with President Tinubu in his quest to reposition the country for excellence.

    He lauded the reforms, saying that the government cannot be subsidising everything in the country.

    According to the communiqué by the organisers, while some challenges are associated with the economic reforms in the short term, they are necessary for sustainable growth.

    It, however, urged the Federal Government to intensify public enlightenment on its policies and programmes so that Nigerians can understand their objectives and impacts.

    The communique reads: “The Southwest stakeholders express strong support for the bold economic reforms being implemented by the Federal Government under the leadership of  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. While these reforms may present short-term challenges, they are essential for Nigeria’s long-term economic stability and prosperity.

    “We call on the Federal Government to intensify public enlightenment and information dissemination on the government’s policies, programmes, and expected impacts. Citizens require clear, transparent, and regular communication to fully understand policy rationale, implementation timelines, and measurable outcomes

     “The summit calls for strengthened Yoruba unity and solidarity across all Southwest states and extended Yoruba communities, committing to transcend partisan political differences in pursuit of collective regional development and the advancement of our shared cultural heritage and economic prosperity.

    “The Southwest   resolves to reclaim and strengthen its historical position as Nigeria’s centre of development, innovation, and good governance, and to serve as a model for democratic engagement, economic transformation, and social progress.”

    The stakeholders called for accelerated regional integration through strategic infrastructure projects, including intra-regional railway networks, industrial hubs, and farm settlements, which they said would boost trade, create jobs, and enhance food security.

    They drew the Federal Government’s attention to the poor conditions of federal roads in the region, including the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha, Lagos–Abeokuta, Ita-Owure-Ado-Ekiti, and Ifaki-Lokoja highways.

    To sustain engagement, the summit resolved to institutionalise the Southwest Dialogue as an annual event, serving as a consistent platform for policy assessment and stakeholder collaboration.

    It added: “Sector-specific working groups shall be established to provide continuous input on policy development and implementation, meeting regularly to review progress, address challenges, and make evidence-based recommendations to government.”

    The communiqué also stated that the DAWN Commission would be strengthened to serve as the technical secretariat of the summit.

    Alake: Southwest contributed over N7b mining revenue in nine months

    Alake said over N30 billion was generated from mining fees and approvals for private mineral-buying centres across the country between January and September.

    He said the region contributed N7.2 billion to the total revenue, making it the highest contributor to the mining income.

    Alake said it is a significant leap in investor confidence and sectoral growth.

    He said: “It is with pride that I announce authoritatively here today that between January and September this year, we have recorded over N13 billion as total revenue. And, wait for this – the South-West contributed N7.2 billion, making it the highest contributor to mining revenues of the federal government.”

    The minister attributed the revenue boost to reforms and awareness campaigns designed to attract investors into the solid minerals sector, adding that the Southwest is strategically positioned to reap economic dividends from the reforms.

    Alake said: “The Southwest has the most successful gold mining project in Nigeria – the Segilola Gold Project – which in 2024 declared a turnover of $193 million at its international headquarters.

    “The Segilola Gold Mining Project in Osun State employs over 2,000 workers, 80 per cent of whom are youths below 40 years of age.”

    Alake said the project pays the highest taxes and royalties in the gold sub-sector, significantly boosting Nigeria’s presence in the global gold market.

    He added: “This success is credited to Sheikh Horos, the Managing Director and CEO of Segilola Gold in Washington. The project is key to marketing Nigeria at various international forums.”

    Highlighting the mineral wealth of the region, Alake described the Southwest as being richly endowed with gold, lithium, limestone, granite, clay, silica, salt, feldspar, kaolin, laterite, quartz, manganese, beryllium, and gemstones.

    He said: “Our records show that South-West companies hold 1,801 mineral titles, including 630 exploration licenses, 51 mining leases, 284 quarry leases, and 836 small-scale mining licenses.

    “As of October 15, Ondo State had the highest number of titles at 481, followed by Oyo (441) and Osun (374). The South-West’s large concentration of quarry leases also explains the cluster of mining explosives manufacturing companies in the region.”

    The minister disclosed that the government had licensed 46 private mineral buying centres and registered 369 mining cooperatives with over 5,000 members.

    He said the cooperative model serves as a non-kinetic strategy to combat illegal mining.

    Alake said the introduction of higher royalties and fees has boosted government revenue and encouraged mergers and acquisitions among mining firms, thereby improving their financial capacity and access to funding.

    He stressed: “Previously, individuals held as many as 35 mining licenses without operating any. Meanwhile, investors with capital lacked licenses. The review of fees forced consolidation and improved financial discipline in the sector.”

    Alake also said that revenues from the Mining Cadastral Office doubled from N6 billion in 2023 to N12.2 billion in 2024, and by last week had climbed by 110 per cent to N26.7 billion in 2025.

    He added: “As we approach the year’s end, we expect even greater achievements.”

    *Ladigbolu lists benefits of Tinubu’s reforms

    Ladigbolu, chairman of Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) and Afenifere elder, warned against resistance to reforms.

    The cleric spoke on: A Reflection on Economic Restructuring and National Renewal.”

    He listed 11 benefits that would accrue to the country if the economic reforms succeed.

    Ladigbolu said: “It will make more money available to the Government for infrastructure development and eventually reduce expenses.

    “Electricity generation (for example) will improve, and we will need less Petrol and Diesel for powering our generators. More vehicles will also be powered by gas, thus reducing our reliance on PMS. The availability of cooking gas will reduce dependence on firewood and charcoal, thereby protecting our environment from degradation.

    “Massive transportation facilities will be available, like trains and buses, thereby reducing the number of Heavy-duty trucks and tankers on our roads. This, in turn, will reduce our expenses on road repairs and maintenance nationwide.

    “Affordable healthcare services will be at our beck and call, while global standard education will also thrive.

    “The policies will drive massive local manufacturing and production (like we once had at Lafia Canning Industry, Apata, Ibadan).

    “We shall return to agricultural investments and the use of local products. Our Engineers and Technologists will embrace innovation and creativity, producing appropriate tools and machines for our small, medium and large-scale industries without needing to use the Dollar to import them from America or China or Korea.

    “Our flashy, showoffish, and extravagant lifestyles will be curtailed, and more and more will live within their means. Wasteful, careless spending will be under control. Our number of personal vehicles and luxury automobiles will be curtailed, and unnecessary travel will be avoided.

    “As we grow wiser (but not miserly), more Nigerians will ask questions of our Governments and make them accountable for the disbursement and management of public funds.

    “Public office holders nationwide will be more careful and watchful. Corruption will be drastically reduced.

    “The price of PMS, gas, pipe-borne water and other utilities will reduce as we all determine to sacrifice for our Great Nation, Nigeria.

    “The fear of God and brotherly love will permeate every aspect of our reformed lives, affecting both the leaders and their followers; for ‘when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.”

    Ladigbolu urged the Federal Government to approach the implementation of the new tax law with sensitivity, fairness, and adequate public enlightenment.

    He stressed the need for public trust and understanding in driving economic reforms.

    Ladigbolu urged the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Ministry of Information, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to embark on massive public engagement to educate Nigerians on the objectives and implications of the new tax regime.

    He enjoined Nigerians to remain patient and optimistic about the ongoing economic reforms initiated by the Federal Government.

    He also expressed confidence that the country would reap substantial benefits if the reforms were pursued with transparency and consistency.

    *Adeleke calls for agro-industrialisation, regional rail

    Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke urged the Southwest to leverage the federal support to drive agro-industrialisation.

    He said that each state can focus on a product in which it has a comparative advantage.

    Adeleke, who was represented by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, said the region should adopt a strategic development outlook that prioritises regional growth, irrespective of political affiliations.

    The governor proposed the development of a circular cargo railway for the Southwest in partnership with the Federal Government, describing it as a catalyst for regional economic expansion.

    Adewusisaid: “We must additionally develop a network of dry ports across the zone, all linked with the circular railway project. It is our position that the South-West must elevate power applications beyond partisan considerations.”

    On security, the governor said: “For security, we must enhance and strengthen Amotekun instead of current efforts to demonise the body based on partisan considerations.”

    Adeleke emphasised the need for political unity in the region, warning against the misuse of federal power.

    He said: “More importantly, we must never deploy federal power against ourselves, no matter the differences. We must develop an internal clearing house where disagreements can be sorted,” Adeleke said.

    The governor also cautioned against compromising democratic principles in the pursuit of development, urging political leaders in the region to uphold electoral integrity.

    He added, “I must warn that we must never compromise democracy in our quest for development. As the most literate segment of the Nigerian society, the Southwest must enhance and protect the rights of its citizens to vote and be voted for. Southwest should be the bastion of free and fair elections in Nigeria.

    “We must avoid the temptation to rig elections, as the consequences have never been palatable. The rights of the people as expressed through the ballot boxes must be respected.”

    At yesterday’s session were former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Senator Okunrinboye, Senator Femi Okunnu, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, presidential aides- Tunde Rahmon, Bolaji Adebiyi and Tope Ajayi, Chief Kole Omololu and former Information Commissioner Yemi Olowolabi.

    Also at the event were the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo and Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Obateru Akinruntan.

  • PDP’s move to reconcile aggrieved Southwest leaders

    PDP’s move to reconcile aggrieved Southwest leaders

    The Governor Seriake Dickson-led National Reconciliatory Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was set up to resolve the dispute over the emergence of Prince Uche Secondus as the National Chairman, has been criss-crossing the Southwest. LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the chances of the committee in tackling the post-convention crisis and the chances of the party in the Southwest in 2019.

    THE major fallout at the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention in Abuja was the displeasure expressed by chieftains of the party from the Southwest that the region has been robbed of the opportunity of producing the national chairmanship position, which went to Prince Uche Secondus from the Southsouth state of Rivers.

    The process leading to the convention had been perceived by Southwest PDP leaders as an affront to the Yoruba race. They argued that Secondus should not have come into the race, because the chairmanship had been ‘micro-zoned’ to the Southwest. The aggrieved chieftains buttressed their argument that since the immediate past president came from Southsouth, the region should have waited for other government positions like Speaker of the House of Representatives, if the party manages to triumph in the 2019 elections.

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State added salt to injury when he retorted that there was no micro zoning and that the Southwest which had not added political value to the party should not be put in top position. Expectedly, the response drew the ire of party chieftains in the Southwest. One of the national chairmanship aspirants, Chief Bode George, described Wike’s statement as the height of insult against the Yoruba race.

    He said: “The Yoruba people have been openly maligned. The Yoruba have been savaged, tormented, treated with contempt, scurried, scoffed at, humiliated and denigrated by little men whose sun will soon set.”

    To analysts, with Secodus’ victory, the Southwest has been tactically schemed out of the PDP’s hierarchical structure, thus reducing it to a regional party. They argued that aspirants from the Southwest were deliberately schemed out to give Southsouth undue advantage. One of such analysts, Prince Olakunle Ademoyewa, recalled that when former President Goodluck Jonathan was in office, no Yoruba man was considered qualified to occupy the 20 highest political offices like Senate President, Chief Justice of the Federation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Speaker House of Representatives etc. He added: “The outcome of the convention is a signal of what is awaiting the Yoruba should the PDP regain power in 2019.”

    Ademoyewa said the PDP risks being perceived as a regional party as the major offices are concentrated in two zones. He said the party that is dreaming to regain power in 2019 needs not start the struggle with issues like division and contempt for a particular ethnic group.

    In order to placate George and other Southwest PDP leaders, the party has raised a reconciliation committee to assuage the feelings of the aggrieved members. Can the committee succeed in pacifying the region?

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr Ife Oyedele, said the frontline Yoruba aspirants for the PDP’s national chairman were deliberately schemed out, because of the role the Southwest played in 2019, which led to the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari. He advised the aspirants and their supporters to read the handwriting on the wall that there is no future for them in the PDP.

    Oyedele said: “This should be a wake-up call for our people (the Yoruba) in the PDP to move to the winning party, the APC, where fairness, equity and democratic principles are followed to the letter, under the pragmatic leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. During the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Yoruba were grossly marginalised. The Yoruba were simply left out in PDP’s skewed balancing act.

    “The same political miscalculation, which cost the PDP the 2015 election, is playing out now in the party. This is an indication that it lacks the discipline and wherewithal to take over power in 2019. The party’s machinery is in the control of a section of the country and a few moneybags still bitter at the role the Southwest played in the defeat of Jonathan in 2015. Our people should not be cajoled by reconciliation moves which cannot reverse the injustice meted out to them.”

    Lawyer and human right activist, Mr Monday Ubani, said the reconciliation move is an afterthought that will not yield any positive result. He said the PDP was not truthful to their zoning arrangement. Initially, the position of chairman was zoned to the South-west, but all of a sudden they changed the goal post, by saying the race is open to all zones in the South.

    Ubani is very pessimistic about the result of the reconciliation. He said: “I don’t think PDP bigwigs in the Southwest will easily forget how they were schemed out by the power brokers at the convention. The Yorubas came out of the convention virtually with nothing. I don’t think they would be persuaded by the reconciliation overtures after denying them the chairmanship of the party.

    “The convention has left the PDP more divided; it has weakened the party. There is no response from the Yoruba PDP leaders to the reconciliation move. The silence means a lot; it is either the aggrieved Yoruba PDP leaders have lost confidence in the PDP as a party or they perceive the reconciliation exercise as a mockery.

    “Things are not normal with the PDP anymore. The northern PDP leaders have maintained silence since the end of the convention. Prior to the convention, the PDP leaders in the North had agreed that the position should go to the Southwest and they endorsed Prof. Tunde Adeniran for the job. But, the new power brokers from Southsouth changed that decision. It is not only the Southwest that felt hurt by the outcome of the convention; the North was also offended. How will the PDP get out of this self-inflicted problem is what I don’t know.”

    Another civil right activist, Comrade Mashood Erubami, said the move for reconciliation would fail. He said: “Beyond the reconciliation and successful convention they are bragging about, most of them are under intense investigation for fraudulent conversion and acquisitions that are so overwhelming and many of them will not participate in the coming election, as they are likely to be convicted and jailed. Reformation of the PDP that is being used as the basis of their reunion is out of meaning and being misused.”

    A youth activist and PDP member from the Southwest, Mr Iyiola Olalere, alleged that Governor Wike deployed a huge sum of money to buy over the delegates against the wish of the party and the northern leaders. He said; “They have murdered sleep and they will sleep no more. They have treated Southwest as inconsequential at the convention; Wike referred to us as a liability, saying that we did not contribute anything the party.

    “But now they want to reconcile with us after they have de-robed us in the market square, they want to robe us inside the room. We shall let them know that in Yorubaland we have culture and value. The reconciliation move is medicine after death.

    “We will not jump from one party to another; we shall remain in the PDP. Once beaten twice shy. This was how Jonathan’s six years in presidency relegated the Southwest to the background. The highest office the Yoruba got under the Jonathan’s administration was Chief of Staff to the President. Most Yoruba holding top positions in government ministries, departments and agencies were sacked. The outcome of the convention is an eye opener. We have learnt our lessons; we cannot be deceived by desperate politicians. We won’t stop them from coming to hold reconciliatory meeting with us, but we cannot be taken for granted.”

    A PDP chieftain, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, disagreed with Olalere. Babatope said though he strongly disagreed with the outcome of the convention but ruled out the Southwest leaders leaving the party. He said: “We have contributed to the party immensely and helped hold the party together since its inception. We will not jump from one party to another. Those of us who believe in PDP will never compromise on our membership. “The controversy will not have adverse effect on the party’s performance in 2019, especially if a reconciliation mechanism is put in place to address genuine grievances. The PDP will not suffer in the Southwest, because of what happened.”

    Babatope said Southwest PDP still see Wike, Secondus and others who denied the region the chairmanship slot as friends.

    Ubani has ruled out the possibility of PDP winning elections in the Southwest in 2019.  He said with the gale of defections from the PDP to the APC, it will be very difficult for the opposition to stop the ruling party.  Former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, and their supporters defected to APC in Ibadan at the weekend.

    Ubani said the defections may not be unconnected to the fall out of the convention. “The result of the convention is taking its toll on the popularity of the party and its chances in future election in the region,” he added.

    To Erubami, no reasonable Nigerians will support the enthronement of a party that will foist another clueless government on Nigeria again. For the PDP to have been ousted from power, its re-election will once again pave way for misuse of power, misappropriation of budget, diversion of fund allocations for power, education, health facilities and other infrastructural facilities with more money going from the public purse into private pockets, in fact, it will be a reinstatement of spiral corruption per excellence.

    He said: “The current efforts of the APC in removing and reorganising some of its policies and replacing them by new and better others will make the PDP irrelevant and given that many of the PDP chieftains are not totally exorcised of corruption and with stronger anti-corruption strategies which will make the people its vanguard, the current efforts of the PDP to come back to power will be an effort in futility.”

    Erubami explained that the faults being alarmed as weakness on the part of the APC is amenable to change and could be a source of strength to bring succour to the transient pains being currently experienced by Nigerians. He said: “Unpaid salaries are being reduced drastically except in very few states, exchange rate is falling positively, efforts are on for better employment of the youths and other engaged hands while power supply is becoming better stabilised in all locations of the country with local prices of commodities falling on daily basis.”

    Ubani said: “No amount of reconciliation will assuage the feelings of the people of Southwest. Nigerians will prefer the APC to continue its rescue mission, rather than allow the PDP to come and destroy the new foundation being laid by the ruling party. It will be very difficult for the PDP to win election in 2019 because Nigerians have not forgotten the havoc it wreaked on the economy which had resulted in economic hardship that people are still battling with.”

     

  • PDP to APC: stop instigating our Southwest leaders

    PDP to APC: stop instigating our Southwest leaders

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of instigating some leaders of the PDP in the Southwest with the view to infiltrating their ranks and setting them against the national body.

    According to the PDP, the ruling party is trying to capitalise on the fallout of its just-concluded national convention, which saw aggrieved chairmanship aspirants from the Southwest kicking against the outcome of the convention.

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said the aim was to distract the opposition and divert the attention of Nigerians from the “colossal failure” of the APC government.

    It reads: “Having woefully failed to stop the PDP elective national convention, a desperate APC has again failed in another bid to plant seeds of discord within the ranks of our members in the Southwest, particularly on issues relating to the outcome of our hugely successful national convention.”

    The PDP said Southwest residents had seen through the antics of the APC propaganda machine and would not allow themselves be deceived.

    The statement added: “The Southwest leaders, who contested for the PDP national chairmanship position, are all men of quality and credibility; the fallout of the convention cannot, in any way, diminish their standing as core nationalists and statesmen whose interests, particularly in the PDP, and the nation, are not driven by personal or ethnic considerations.

    “What essentially drives the individual and collective aspirations of the Southwest leaders in the PDP remains in tandem with the vision of other leaders of our party across the country, which is to rescue our dear nation from the directionless administration of the APC with its attendant economic hardship on Nigerians.

    “In fretting, the APC does not seem to realise that people in the Southwest are as much victims of its misrule as other Nigerians. Those in the Southwest suffer from the current chaotic state of the economy, which the APC administration has inflicted on the nation.

    “They groan from the APC’s negative policies on foreign exchange as well as the heavy taxations that are killing industries and businesses; they suffer the misery in the land resulting from the spiral rate of inflation, decline in the stock market and decayed infrastructure.

  • PDP pacifies angry Southwest leaders

    PDP pacifies angry Southwest leaders

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders are considering options on how to pacify the Southwest geopolitical zone, following protest from its leaders.

    The zone failed to realise its bid to produce the national chairman for the first time since the party was formed in 1998 as a result of the opposition from the party’s governors.

    It was learnt that the PDP governors hijacked the party’s structure  to have a say in the 2019 presidential plans of the party, secure second term tickets for eight of the party’s  11 governors and for the remaining three to be able to anoint their successors.

    In a bid to rally support for National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has reached out to aggrieved PDP members.

    Jonathan visited his ally, ex-Minister of National Planning Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman, who lost the post of National Publicity Secretary to the “Unity List” candidate, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan.

    The former President urged PDP leaders and members to give the Secondus team “benefit of the doubt”.

    Secondus himself initiated reconciliation with PDP leaders in the Southwest, meeting yesterday with a former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, in Abuja.

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson was also expected to hold talks with defeated chairmanship aspirant Prof. Tunde Adeniran.

    Investigation by The Nation showed that top leaders of the party, especially the founding fathers, were disturbed by the sidelining of the Southwest in the scheme of things.

    The leaders were worried that the number of registered voters in Lagos alone is about 5.8 million, which is more than the figures of Bayelsa, Ekiti, Cross Rivers, Gombe and Ebonyi put together.

    It was learnt that while the leaders of PDP might have come to terms with the reality of the emergence of Secondus, they said the party must assuage the “genuine feelings of the Southwest.”.

    According to party sources, the PDP options for the Southwest are as follows: engagement and reconciliation; inclusion of more Southwest leaders in party’s key decisions;  likelihood of appointment of Senate President or Secretary to the Government of the Federation from the zone, if PDP wins the next presidential race; and juicy appointments after 2019 poll

    A member of the Board of Trustees, who spoke in confidence, said: “The PDP chairman on Monday held a reconciliatory meeting with Chief George. We are hopeful that the healing process will yield fruits.”

    National Publicity Secretary Ologbodiyan said: “There are efforts to begin a proper reconciliation in the Southwest and with some of our leaders. We believe it is not in the interest  of all of us to allow the party to be killed.”

    A strong stalwart of PDP, who spoke with The Nation in confidence, said:  “The governors took over the party structure because they have been funding it all along with their huge resources. So, they believe ‘he who pays the piper dictates the tune’.

    “Some of the governors were emphatic that they cannot entrust their future in the hands of some candidates from the Southwest, who might succumb to pressure from the bigwigs in PDP at any critical moment. They rated Secondus as a very strong character.

    “A few others claimed that they were being patriotic by backing Secondus, who can restructure, reunite and make the party stronger to win more states than what the old generation of PDP leaders turned it into.

    “But it was discernible to all that the governors are actually targeting 2019 presidential primaries in PDP. They are determined to have much say on who will secure the ticket of the party. Some of them are already working for some aspirants in PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).”

    During his visit to Prof. Sulaiman, Jonathan arrived at the ex-minister’s home in Abuja at about 1.10pm and left after a 50-minute stay.

    Those on his entourage included a former Minister of Special Duties Mallam Tanimu Turaki and some party leaders.

    Jonathan pleaded with Suleiman and other leaders of the party, who felt offended by the results of the elective convention, to forgive and forget.

    He said: “We should give the new executives of PDP some benefit of the doubt and see how things work out. If we fail to support them, we are not helping the party.”

    He told Suleiman: “I thank you for your doggedness and passion for PDP

    “You did well and members of our party know you are the best among the competitors. Put the events of  Saturday night behind you and move on. Accept the outcome of the election as the wish of God.

    “You should not allow yourself to be stampeded into any untoward action. I know better things await you. We cannot afford to lose you.”

    Suleiman, who praised the ex-President for his solidarity visit,  said nobody or group could  intimidate others out of PDP.

    He said: “I thank you for your compassionate posture. You are a consummate leader worthy of emulation. Your visit has inspired me more on my commitment to PDP.

    “I promise to I will take to your advice. The party is ours and nobody  or group of people cannot intimidate us out of the party. I thank you and other members of your entourage for the confidence reposed in me.”

  • …SouthWest leaders, stakeholders insist on consensus candidate

    …SouthWest leaders, stakeholders insist on consensus candidate

    Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West region may have resolved to do everything possible to ensure that the zone goes to the national convention of the party scheduled to hold next month with a consensus candidate for the position of national chairman.

    The decision, according to very reliable party sources, is to forestall a situation where the region will lose the coveted position of national chairman to the South-South region.

    Speaking to The Nation shortly after an emergency meeting of PDP leaders and stakeholders of the region in Lagos yesterday, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, pleading anonymity, revealed that in spite of the criticism and condemnations that have trailed earlier efforts to reduce the number of chairmanship aspirants from the region, party leaders at the meeting resolved to move for a consensus candidate at all cost.

    He also said majority of the stakeholders at the emergency meeting which was called to discuss the chances of the region at the elective convention, threw their weight behind the call for a consensus candidate. The APC chieftain added that majority of the leading aspirants for the position from the Southwest were invited to the meeting.

    “Yes. We met. And the meeting was to discuss our chances as a region at the elective national convention holding in December. You will agree with me that many observers have been saying the Southwest may lose the chance to produce PDP’s national chairman for the first time if we fail to put our house in order before the December date of the convention.

    “What they are simply telling us is to reduce the number of chairmanship aspirants we are currently parading. We stand the risk of dividing our votes at the convention while the South South with less number of aspirants will get block votes and win the election. This is our dilemma and this is what we met to discuss today,” he said.

    According to him, the meeting among other things, discussed possible ways of improving the region’s chances of winning the coveted chairmanship seat and resolved to do everything humanly possible to go to the convention with only one candidate. He said party leaders have been mandated to champion the cause of getting a consensus candidate for the region in good time.

    “The meeting, though an emergency one, was well attended by leaders, chieftains and stakeholders from all the states in the region. Some of the aspirants themselves were in attendance. And after thorough deliberations, everything still boiled down to the fact and necessity that we need to put our house in order if we really want to win the chairmanship seat.

    “More meetings and consultations will be held and the process will be announced to ensure that it is fair to all those involved,” he added.

    The meeting, it was learnt also discussed an earlier report that the BoT members of the party in the region have reduced the number of aspirants to three, asking all others to drop their ambition in the overall interest of the region. Leaders and stakeholders at the meeting were said to have while agreeing that there is need to do something urgently, faulted the process adopted by the BoT members in arriving at their earlier decision.

    “Yes we discussed the earlier report but we all resolved to put that aside and put in place a more open process that will give us a result that will be acceptable to all and sundry. We are hoping that it will be better handled this time and at the end of the day, reasons and superior arguments will prevail in the interest of southwest PDP.

    “We want to get our acts together and do the needful before it is too late. That is why nobody is talking to the press about this just yet. We have to popularize the decision. We have to educate our people on the need to do this. We cannot force anything on anybody. We all have rights but we can all come together and reason in favour of our collective interest,” he said.

  • Southwest leaders opt for united Nigeria

    •Regional chiefs insist on restructuring

    Southwest leaders yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, opted for a united Nigeria, warning those calling for disintegration of the country to drop the idea.

    They noted that solution to Nigeria’s  problems is restructuring, saying this should reflect true federalism, as envisioned by the founding fathers.

    The regional leaders spoke at the public presentation of memorandum on true federalism organised by the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan (UI).

    Speakers presented their memoranda to the Committee on True Federalism, which is reviewing ideas on restructuring, devolution of powers, resource control and regionalism, among others.

    Dignitaries at the event include All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states, members of APC Committee on True Federalism, led by its Chairman and Plateau State Governor Simon Lanlong; Oyo State Deputy Governor Moses Alake and former Enugu State Govvernor Sullivan Chime.

    Others include prominent rulers, led by Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji; Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola and Onijeru of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oladapo.

    Also present are: Southwest APC Women’s Leader Mrs Kemi Nelson, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) Chairman Wale Oshin, representative of Lagos State Governor Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Oyo State APC Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, and Lagos State APC Vice Chairman, Chief Funso Ologunde.

    Before making the Oyo State government presentation, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Otunba Moses Alake, described the APC administration as a responsible and responsive government with the people’s interests and well-being as its cardinal focus.

    To him, the agitation for restructuring is an indication that something need to be addressed on the structure or arrangement in the country.

    He said: “For instance, the present revenue formula, which gives 52.8 per cent to the Federal Government, with  a paltry 26.72 per cent and 20 per cent to states and local governments, is too lopsided, thus leaving states with serious financial challenges.

    “Besides, the centre is saddled with too many responsibilities, which it finds pretty difficult to discharge…”

    The governor expressed dissatisfaction at the percentage of derivation and called for action to redress the unfair disparity.

    Ajimobi said: “Another question, which nobody has found an answer to, is why the Federal Government has reduced the percentage of derivation from 50 per cent to 45 per cent in 1975 and has continued to use 1.5 per cent and three per cent until it was finally fixed at 13 per cent. No wonder most states in Nigeria today find it difficult to survive without going to Abuja cap-in-hand for the monthly handout.”

    Also, Oba Adeyemi urged the Federal Government and political leaders to restructure the country to avoid what happened in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) and other countries, such as Romania.

    The frontline monarch noted that the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will continue to recur because the Federal Government cannot implement agreements it reached with unions due to shortage of funds.

    He described the attempt by the APC to examine restructuring as a step in the right direction.

    The Alaafin presented a memorandum on behalf of other traditional rulers from Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states.

    Oba Adeyemi said the structure where a state (Lagos) with the highest population of over 20 million people is having only 20 local governments while Kano with six million people is having 44 local governments, is unjust and unfair.

    The monarch said those in power should heed the calls from various quarters to restructure the country, warning that countries, such as USSR and Romania, were once in a similar situation but their leaders turned deaf ears to the calls that led to forced break-up.

    He said: “What I am saying is that if we do not restructure Nigeria, what happened in USSR may happen. The USSR was broken by force. Romania also was divided through force. That is the way their leaders were doing.

    “Thirty-six states’ workers are not being paid; the governors cannot pay them. What caused these was the killing of political leaders in the First Republic, which was sectional and unjust.

    “Gen. Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi (the late military leader) scrapped the federal structure and replaced it with a unitary system. Since then, we have not come back to true federalism. We need to go back to the glorious days of marketing boards. There is no need for the Federal Ministry of Culture; the Federal Government has no culture.

    “Lagos has 20 local government areas with 20 million people; Kano has 44 local governments with six million people. Where do they do that throughout the world? Just as Kano, Jigawa State has more local government areas than Lagos State.

    “There will continue to be ASSU strikes. Eighteen years ago, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU); they can’t solve it. We are concentrating too much power at the centre. The present state of things can only be resolved through a summit like this.”

    Oyo State APC Chairman Akin Oke, on behalf of the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, presented a 12-point position, including the scrapping of the local government system – the third tier of government.

    The party chieftain lauded the landmark success of the APC since it took over the mantle of leadership in the country.

    He said: “More significantly, the landmark success recorded by opposition APC in 2015, which made power to change hands at the centre, was the needed saving grace for sustainability of our dear country after it had suffered tremendously in the hands of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) elements who foisted bad culture of corruption, schism and sabotage on the giant of Africa, as Nigeria was once acknowledged.”

  • Kudos to Southwest leaders

    Not long ago, Yoruba leaders in the then Action Congress (AC) gathered at the instance of AC governors to discuss the issue of social, political and regional cooperation among South-west states. The idea, I believed, was to make the South-west a power block for social, political, economic, industrial, scientific and technological developments, similar to the noticeable developments in the Old Western Region under the leadership of Obafemi Awolowo. Now, its revival for the new Southwest is timely, especially at a time when the political and economic ships of Nigeria are sinking fast. It is from this vantage point of view that the recent wake-up call by Southwest leaders who are “demanding for more action out of little action from the Federal Government” is worthy of special notice.
    According to The Nation, January 13, front page and page 6, the Southwest All Progressive Congress (APC) leaders held a crucial meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on January 12, and resolved to (1) unite and press for more dividends of democracy for the region and, (2) defend the legacies of the zone (region) as the centrepiece of the progressive political ideology which gave birth to a new federal government during the 2015 general elections.
    According to Chief Bisi Akande who chaired the meeting, “We met principally to discuss all the things that may be affecting South-west, and we have come out with a resolution to show that in Southwest APC there is unity of purpose and that the leadership is one… We have resolved on all the issues that may be affecting governance of this country, and the influence we should exercise as a group in the interest and progress of this country”. Now, what I want our Southwest leaders to do in order to keep the zone as the most developed and prosperous region of Nigeria, like the old Western Region under Chief Awolowo, are the following:
    Continue to imagine there is no oil in Nigeria by thinking less about oil revenue from the federal government and begin to harness their human and other natural (mineral) resources for sustainable and enduring development of the region, not minding the fact that Ondo and Lagos are oil producing states.
    Forget oil and go back to the era of agriculture as the mainstay of the economy. In this connection, important suggestions could be made. First, begin an aggressive clearing of lands for mechanized farming in each state. People may not know that in the USA, agriculture is like our own oil as the greatest source of their national wealth, followed by machinery. Many of us who once lived in the US and Canada saw that there is hardly any land that is allowed to remain fallow, from Detroit to Chicago and to California in the USA, for example, and from Toronto to Nova Scotia, or the famous prairies of Canada – Manitoba, Winnipeg to British Columbia – covering more than 3,000 miles from Toronto, many of which are harnessed for cultivation of wheat and other agricultural products. What you see as you travel along the prairies are farmlands everywhere, unlike in Nigeria where the land between one city and the other is just bush and bush all the way, with little or no farm lands to be seen.
    In the case of South-west, there exists an abundance of fallow and fertile lands all over the place. You travel from Ile-Ife to Ibadan and from there to Abeokuta or from Ile-Ife to Ado-Ekiti, all you see are lands which are pitiably lying fallow but nevertheless dotted with crops like palm trees that were never planted by human beings but were merely dropped by animals in transit, simply because the lands are so fertile that any seed dropped on them would germinate and grow even though they were not planted by human beings. Nowadays, people’s interest is how to sell some of these massive lands for building of houses that may never be occupied because of their inappropriate locations in isolated bush areas that ought to have been developed for farming.
    On this matter, what I want our South-west leaders to do is to make a concerted effort to see that each governor turns the lands that lie fallow in their territories to productive enterprise through large scale mechanized farming. There is a special need to breed cattle, swine, goats, sheep and rams for local consumption as well as for export. There is abundant land for grazing in the South-west. Let every state acquire lands for cattle ranches where cattle would be raised, fed and sold to people of the state and other states while the remaining could be exported, thus putting an end to importation of cows from the North and Niger Republic. From these ranches, cows would be well fed to produce sufficient milk, beef and sausages for local consumption and for exports. In the breeding and rearing of cattle, attempts should be made to import big and healthy bulls and cows from abroad for the purpose of cross breeding so that the beef and dairy products like fresh milk, cheese and butter to be produced from the high breed cows would meet international standard for export.
    For mechanized farming, the South-west have no problem of high level manpower in the areas of agriculture, agricultural engineering and agricultural economics as well as its back up with graduates in mechanical engineering, soil science and soil engineering, electronic/electrical engineering, graduates in veterinary medicine, microbiology and other experts associated with mechanized farming, food production, food storage and preservation so that the agricultural products that are at present available only in seasons should be made available all the year round. All of this would create thousands, if not millions, of employment while the states’ economy would be boosted tremendously by incomes from agricultural products. And for the states, there would be abundance of food supply for all, and general prosperity to the bargain. For the purpose of planting crops all the year round, attempt should be made to fashion out a superb irrigation system that would be second to none in West Africa and probably beyond. In order to put all this into maximum effect, assistance and cooperation/partnership should be sought from the US farmers, and especially the Israelis who have turned their desert into lands of immense agricultural production. The African Development Bank (AFDB) and other financial agencies might also be brought in for their cooperation and assistance.
    As of now, let the mainstay of economy of South-west be agriculture. With food security, all other securities would also naturally fall into place. The South-west should never surrender its leadership in education, healthcare, industries and cooperative investments and other commercial enterprises as started by Awolowo whose insight led to the Oodua Investment Group of Companies which should now be expanded to an Octopus in the region through further cooperation and strong will amongst the governors.

    •Professor Makinde, FNAL is DG/CEO, Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance, Osogbo, Osun State.