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  • Southwest’s push for regional integration

    Southwest’s push for regional integration

    Southwest traditional rulers and political leaders have resolved to harness vast human and natural resources for regional economic integration during the recent summit in Akure, capital of Ondo State. Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reports

    In the fifties and sixties, Southwest was the model and envy of other regions. The six states of Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos,  from the outset, existed as one promising Western Region under its indefatigable pathfinder, Premier Obafemi Awolowo,

     That pioneer administration, which existed between 1951 and 1959, was second to none in Africa. Sixty six years after, it remains a reference point in Nigeria.

    The first television station in Africa is a legacy. It existed before many countries, including France, attempted one. Other strides include the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan, industrial estates in Ibadan and Ikeja, Cocoa House, also at Ibadan, and farm settlements across the provinces.

    Awolowo presided over a cabinet of talents, an efficient civil, teaching and diplomatic service, and the implementation of free education, which increased public literacy, enhanced political consciousness and created economic opportunities.

    The region later established the globally recognised University of Ife. It awarded scholarships to brilliant students who became productive leaders. The government promoted agriculture, particularly cocoa farming, as the mainstay of the economy.

    Indeed, early leaders were very frugal, patriotic, sincere and selfless. Regional resources were put into productive use and corruption was kept at bay. Despite the political hullabaloo of the sixties, the Southwest still treasured its background as a model.

    Unfortunately, the military incursion heralded a turn of events. Federalism collapsed and its pseudo-autonomy was gone. Although governors of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the Second Republic – Lateef Jakande (Lagos State), Adekunle Ajasin (Ondo), Bola Ige (Oyo) and Bisi Onabanjo (Ogun) – tried frantically to reenact the feats, the constraints of the unpredictable era aborted their dream.

    Regionalism may appear old fashioned, but its gains and lessons have endured. While the six states cannot be dismantled to pave the way for regression to the old regional order, collaboration by the six Yoruba states of Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti, and their scattered kith and kin in Kwara and Kogi can achieve meaningful results.

    In recent times, the bond of unity produced the idea of Amotekun, which has, to a large extent, succeeded in reducing crime and criminality in the region, unlike in the Southeast where Ebube Agu has remained a cosmetic outfit.

    Southwest leaders are trying to renew their resolve to pursue regional integration to foster prosperity across the six states. They also reiterating their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies and programmes, noting that a sound foundation is being laid for future prosperity of the country.

    The regional think-tank, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), is seeking for stronger collaboration with the governors towards the implementation of plans designed to make the geo-political region to regain its lost glory.

    There is also the awareness 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.”

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

    Afenifere leader, 99-year old Chief Rueben Fasoranti said the unity of the Southwest should be preserved always, especially on common matters, despite the transient political differences among those on the drivers’ seats in parts of the six states.

    It was a mega events. The ministers of Southwest origin – Wale Edun (Finance and Economy), Adegboyega Oyetola (Blue Economy), Dele Alake (Solid Minerals Development), Adebayo Adelabu (Power) and Isiaq Salako (State, Health) – tendered their stewarship.

    Five of the six governors – Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (host, Ondo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti, represented by Secretary to Government Prof. Habibat Adubiaro), Ademola Adeleke (Osun, represented by Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi) and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun, represented by Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele) – tendered their scorecard.

    Elder statesman and pioneer national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Bisi Akande urged the region to emulate other regions who are taking advantage of how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is setting the country on the path of federalism through restructuring.

    Afenifere Leader Chief Reuben Fasoranti, who renewed his call for unity among Yoruba, said the race should return to the welfarist and progressive ideology of ‘freedom for all, life more abundant.’

    The chairman of Proshare Limited, Olufemi Awoyemi, advised the six Southwest states to collaborate economically based on the proposals enjoined by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN).

    Awoyemi, who was the keynote speaker, spoke on ‘Two years of the Tinubu administration: Southwest’s perspective and posterity.’

    He said Nigeria had moved from the worst risk zone to the recovery zone.

    However, he said there is a translation gap between what he described as statistical economy and street economy, adding that the gap between macroeconomic stability and micro-economic reality should be bridged.

    Awoyemi said there is a problem triggered by the inability of the sub-national units to complement the efforts of the Federal Government.

    He said: “What Tinubu government has done is important.  But what Southwest governors should do are more important..”

    Awoyemi said while the current crop of leaders benefitted from the vision of illustrious pathfinders like Obafemi Awolowo,  Adekunle Ajasin and Bisi Onabanjo, what the governors have done only amounted to tokenism.

    He charged them to erect good standards like the ones they inherited from the founding fathers.

    Urging Southwest to effectively utilise the opportunity provided by the Southwest Development Commission, he said: “Southwest Commission’s goals, as highlighted by DAWN, has the objective of building a globally competitive economy.

    “Southwest Commission should not become a constituency project awarding commission. The purpose is to come up with plans, in synergy with DAWN, to build a legacy like the Oodua Group.

    “Southwest should talk about regional rail and renewable power supply, agro-allied industries. Lagos and Ogun should be able to resolve their boundary problems.”

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

    It, however, urged the Federal Government to intensify public enlightenment on its policies and programmes so thT 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 region 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 institutionalize 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.

    Many noted that Yoruba intellectuals and patriots with a deep sense of history have embarked on a lot of activities in the area of regional integration. A document, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), produced by Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), was released. It is a tribute to the power of ideas.

     DAWN is both a document and a process. As a document, it sets out a clear framework for the region’s objectives, priorities and major policy thrusts. It also provides a roadmap upon which governments, development partners, the private sector and civil society can ride on to drive a development agenda.

    There is a Yoruba Academy that is dedicated to the preservation of Yoruba language and culture, and the study of history. There is also a Commission or a Directorate of Southwest Economic Development Corporation with its headquarters at Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

     It is important for the Southwest to revisit the popular agenda for regional integration now that the prospect of restoring federalism is no more slim.

    Strategic economic partnership is crucial to regional integration. The wisdom that permitted the founding fathers of the region to float the conglomerate, Oodua Investment, should not be lacking in their latter-day successors.

    Agriculture is a pivotal area the region has to develop. It is shameful that some parts of the Southwest are depending on food crops from the Middle Belt to survive, despite the vast arable land across the six states. The region may not even need fertilisers in aid of farming. Food sufficiency is attainable. Even, in the days of yore when the Yoruba were at war with each other and other tribes, their gallant soldiers still spared some time for planting crops to argument food supply to the war front.

    The region is a big market. Labour, both skilled and unskilled, is not in short supply. But, governments of the Southwest should provide the enabling environment. Farmers need roads that will link them to the market so that farm produce would not rot away in nearby and distant farms. Farming, either on small or large scale, could be boosted through government’s incentives, including soft loans to farmers, sourcing improved seedlings, tax holidays and encouragement of farmers’ cooperative societies.

    Now that railway has strayed from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List, the Southwest should translate its plan to develop a regional rail infrastructure into action. It should not be difficult to attract investors by the zone. A rail network will boost transportation and trade and even generate some employment. Other resources like gold can also be tapped by the endowed states.

    Southwest leaders know that the six states in the region may not be equally endowed. There is need for the sustenance of brotherhood and sacrifice. If only a state has prospects, and others wallow in poverty, such a state is not insulated from the consequences of poverty ravaging the sister state. People from other states but not as endowed will consistently migrate to the seeming prosperous state and there will be more pressure on the infrastructure of the lone prosperous state.

    Regional integration is about leveraging the comparative advantage within the region. A part of the region may not be endowed with finance, but it may be endowed in other areas. For example, in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo, there are abundant land resources. Lagos has financial resources. To crystallise a developmental and industrial programme in the region, there is need for massive and large scale agriculture to grow the agro-allied industry. Lagos and Osun, or Lagos and Ekiti can collaborate in this win-win situation. It is not about money alone. Resources for production are varied and they abound in different parts of the region.

    Can the Southwest survive without oil? The question is apt, in view of the handout economy being operated in the country whereby states, cap in hand, beg the Federal Government for monthly allocations.

    At the Akure summit were Ondo State Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami, Chief Sehinde Arogbofa, former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Senator Remi Okurinboye, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Third Republic House of Representatives Chief Whip Olawale Oshun, and NDDC Executive Director Chief Ifedayo Abegunde.

    Also present were Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Cornelius Ojelabi, one-time Ondo State Deputy Governor Lasisi Oluboyo, Prof. Banji Aluko, Chief Pius Akinyelure, Ondo APC Chairman Ade Adetimehin, Ambassador Sola Iji, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, former Oyo State Deputy Governor Alake Adeyemo, former Ogun State Deputy Governor Segun Adesegun, Dare Babarinsa, Tunde Rahmon, Dr. Adetunji Adeoye, Ondo State Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman Pade Adeniji, Bola Adewusi, Chief Jide Awe, Sola Elesin, Ayo Afolabi, Taiwo Olatunbosun, Idowu Ajanaku, and DAWN Director-General Dr. Seye Oyeleye.

    Traditional rulers at the conference included the Alafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, the Olowo of Owo and Chairman, Council of Obas, Ondo State, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland,  Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Laoye, Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, and the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo.

    Also present were Senator Remi Okunrinboye, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, Bolaji Adebiyi, Tope Ajayi, Chief Kole Omololu and former Information Commissioner Yemi Olowolabi.

  • Southwest citizen-government engagement summit postponed to October 29-30

    Southwest citizen-government engagement summit postponed to October 29-30

    The Steering Committee of the Southwest Citizen-Government Engagement Summit has announced the postponement of the event originally slated for October 9-10, 2025. 

    The summit will now hold on October 29-30, 2025, at the International Conference Centre (The Dome), Akure, Ondo State.

    All invited participants are expected to arrive on October 28, 2025, ahead of the two-day programme themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future.” 

    The Chief Host of the summit remains Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State.

    Announcing the new dates, the Chairman of the Steering Committee, Dr. Akin Onigbinde (SAN), said the postponement was to ensure the summit provides a truly meaningful platform for engagement between citizens and government.

    “The additional time will enable us to conduct comprehensive consultations with all participating ministries, agencies, and stakeholders; ensure optimal logistical arrangements that facilitate substantive dialogue; and coordinate effectively with all six Southwest state governments and participating institutions,” Onigbinde explained.

    He apologised for any inconvenience the adjustment might cause, assuring stakeholders and the public of the committee’s commitment to delivering an impactful, inclusive, and productive summit.

    The summit, convened by Afenifere in partnership with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, will feature six thematic sessions on Fiscal Reforms and National Planning, Economic Development and Job Creation, Social Services and Social Development, Infrastructure and Transportation, Human Capital Development, and Security and Governance.

    Participants will include Southwest governors, federal ministers and appointees of Southwest origin, federal legislators, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organizations, private sector players, youth and student bodies, women groups, and other key stakeholders across the region.

    Afenifere, the foremost Yoruba socio-political organization, is known for its advocacy on regional interests and democratic governance, while DAWN Commission serves as the technocratic institution driving regional integration and development in the Southwest.

    The postponement was confirmed in a statement issued on Saturday, October 4, by the group’s Media Relations Officer, Segun Balogun.

  • Southwest, northwest lead online, in-person voter registration

    Southwest, northwest lead online, in-person voter registration

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 6,232,673 eligible Nigerians have registered on its online portal at the end of the sixth week of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. Of this figure, 3,250,338 (52.15%) are women, while 2,982,335 (47.85%) are men.

    The data also shows that 137,865 registrants are persons with disabilities.

    INEC further revealed that 1,004,132 Nigerians have completed the physical (in-person) registration, with women accounting for 555,077 (55.28%) and men 449,055 (44.72%).

    According to the statistics released on Monday, the South West and North West continue to lead both the online and in-person registration exercises.

    Borno State tops online registration with 682,805 registrants, while Osun State leads the in-person exercise with 107,012 completed registrations.

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    Regional figures show the South West leading online registrations with 1,924,072 eligible voters, followed by the North West with 1,728,144. The North East comes third with 1,197,510, while the North Central follows with 967,518. The South South and South East recorded 334,578 and 81,478, respectively.

    For in-person registrations, the North West leads with 277,786 completed, followed by the South West with 252,281, North Central with 155,953, North East with 144,437, South South with 105,108, and South East with 67,745.

    The state-by-state breakdown of the online registration exercise revealed that Borno has registered 682,805, followed by Osun with 599,363 voters, Lagos with 555,442 voters, Kebbi with 472,662, while Ogun and Kaduna have registered 450,897 and 376,054 voters, respectively.

    Osun state is coming first in the physical registration exercise with 107,012 voters completing their registration, followed by Lagos with 58,460, Borno with 56,828, Kano with 54,145, Sokoto with 48,430, Imo with 47,083, and Kogi with 41,257 voters.

    Statistics for Anambra state are not included in the two exercises since the state will be part of the Continuous Voter Registration until after the November 8 governorship elections.

  • Calling on governors: Variant of herdsmen terrorism is taking over Southwest streets

    Calling on governors: Variant of herdsmen terrorism is taking over Southwest streets

    Or how come, to quote a trending WhatsApp chat, that they  are the only ethnic group in Nigeria that is at war with the  Eggons in Nassarawa, the Tivs in Benue, the Idomas of Agatu, the Beroms of Plateau, the Adaras of Southern Kaduna, the Mumuyes & June 4 District on the Mambilla, the Hausas of Zamfara, the Igbos of the South East, and the Yorubas of the Southwest?” – the columnist in:

    ‘Rampaging Fulani Herdsmen: The Akure High Level meeting should have done more, of January 31, 2021.

    “Good morning, Uncle Femi,

    I came across this in a group chat and I read with interest and alarm. I read every word and keenly too. I don’t know who Adedamola Adetayo is but he sounded neither flippant nor unknowing”.

    The immediate quote above is from my dear brother and friend, a Professor of Igbo extraction who I have quoted severally on these pages. Though non – Yoruba, what he read in  one of Adedamola Adetayo’s writings on the menace of Aboki’s in Yoruba land jolted him so much he sent it me, not because I can  do anything to the seemingly untouchable Northern urchins who were trucked  down South by the powers that be in that region during the Buhari years, but at least to allow, through this medium, those we voted into office to ensure our safety in the Southwest not only aware, but do something about them.

    Studies, like that by the China Achebe Foundation, have shown that senior Northern military officers deliberately stand down the rank and file from confronting Fulani herdsmen whenever they attack and it is doubtful if same isn’t happening in the Nigerian police. Add to that the preponderance of Northern DPO’s in the police and you’ve blown the cover of why Abokis are now ravaging the Southwest literally unchallenged.

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    Aboki’s  are some hoi polloi, Northern urchins exported to Southwest Nigeria by Northern governors who, in the name of dividends of democracy, bought them thousands of glittering, brand new okadas and trucked them with these characters, complete with cows, AK 47 and sundry arms and ammunition.

    Readers of this column would remember my oft- quoted Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM)directive to these rootless Northern youths:

    “Northern youths should move enmass to Southern States. Relaunch the mass movement in ways they have never seen … If the towns and cities are hostile, hang out on the street corners, in uncompleted buildings, occupy the forests, pitch tents, make any where available as your abode, your rest places, your home. We urge you to be armed as the infidels may want to attack you”.

    One day soon, Yorubas will sing panegyrics to Adedamola Adetayo, the  tireless chronicler of the menace of these Northerners in Southwest Nigeria.

    Below is what space will permit of his recent capture of the horrendous bestiality of these Northerners in Yoruba land as detailed in a WhatsApp post titled: “Before Tomorrow Comes, a Warning”:

    “Just yesterday, I received a report from the IJEGUN area of IKOTUN in Lagos State. It was so troubling that I couldn’t sleep until about 4.30am:

    A shop in the area was burgled in the night. It was a phone shop where some youths sell phones, accessories and do repairs.  Thieves broke into the shop and cleared out all the phones in sight, including the ones for repairs.

    Not long after, an Aboki came into the shop with a phone to repair. It turned out it was one of those stolen. He made to delay the Aboki while he placed a call to the nearest Police post which was Isheri-Osun.

    While he waited for the police, the aboki, sensing danger, wanted to leave.

    He was prevented and trapped inside the shop.

    Next thing he did was to call his kinsmen and gave them his location.

    In a flash they were there in huge numbers brandishing different types of dangerous weapons. They TORE DOWN  the shop, took him out and made away with him before the Police came.

    The report says they encountered the approaching Policemen on the way but it was a non-issue as they openly challenged the police. The Policemen were coming on bikes but had to beat a retreat when they saw the menacing Abokis.

    In fact, two of the Okada riders who brought the Policemen were reportedlyh stabbed.

    What happened, I later learnt, is the standard and regular practice of the Abokis in the area just as it is the practice in Abeokuta and all over the SW right now.

    Indeed, as I also found out, there is  at a location in the ÈJẸDÒDÓ area in the axis, called BOWLER which is the central dump site for all the bowler-bowler Abokis of that area. It  is seething with the lowest dredges of humanity; and terribly dangerous. Equally

    About 80 per cent of Okada riders in the axis ,  just as it is all over Lagos State and Yoruba land, are  Abokis.

    ONDO STATE: Very recently we got news that at least three corpses were seen at different locations in front of the Ondo State Government House. Citizens had come to protest the killings of their Kinsmen by so-called Herdsmen who had killed them in cold blood. Somewhere in Okitipupa came another report that a man identified as an Aboki attacked the grandson of Madam Comfort Ọmọ́gè, the musician and, with a knife, slit his throat in broad daylight.

    Ditto in the Ikare and many other areas of  Ondo State.

     OYO STATE – There is a video all over the internet now in which a truckload of people  was intercepted somewhere on the Ọ̀YỌ́- IBADAN road. It was loaded to the brim with people, motorcycles and was full of arms and ammunition, hidden underneath. The truck was heading for either Ibadan or Lagos.

    And that was just ONE TRUCK out of hundreds which pass that route everyday and  night, most of them unchecked.

    In SASA market in Ibadan, the report was that a group of  Aboki traders killed a Yoruba trader in the course of an argument. By the time the dust settled, there had been a casualty on the side of the Abokis too.

    All hell broke loose and Governor Makinde of the State was later seen receiving a high-powered delegation from the North who treated him as if he was caught red handed in a shameful act. The reader would recall a similar visit to a governor of Oyo state by then General Buhari even when they were the aggressor.

      OGUN STATE – In Ijebu-Igbo, a regular pattern of the most despicable mode of killings repeatedly happens. Innocent citizens, Ijebus, are kidnapped and their families extorted through ransom payments. Yet the victims are later killed, thrown into wells full of water. The few who escaped usually tell their story.

    In  the same Ogun State, a Yoruba Okada rider had an altercation with an Aboki rider and before he knew it, fellow Abokis had surrounded him, beat him silly and thereafter took him and his bike with them to their Leader who forced him to pay the offending Aboki before his bike was released to him and  set free.

    Lllp

    I had a personal encounter in Abeokuta in 2018 in front of my business premises. Two Yoruba youths were in an argument with a single Aboki Okada rider. Before they knew it, about 20 other Abokis had swarmed on him ready to pounce.

    I made an effort to dowse the tension. Before I did that, and that was what saved my life, I placed a call to the nearest Police station for help. The two Yoruba youths had used the opportunity of the distraction to slip out of the crowd and I was the only one left. They were getting ready to MOB me when the police arrived.

    Even at the police station I became the accused and I was going to get locked up in the cell for, apparently, allowing the two youths to escape jungle justice in the hands of the Aboki murderous mob.

    6.  LAGOS STATE – Mr Olatunji Bakare wasn’t as lucky in Apapa.

    He was the LASTMA commander of the sector covering Mile 2, Ijora and Apapa.

    On that fateful day in December of 2016, the Abokis had an argument with some LASTMA operatives.

    In a flash, as they always do, the entire area was swarming with Abokis and they were going to attack the LASTMA operatives.

    Mr. Bakare very unfortunately came from Ijora into the fray to mediate.

    These guys descended on him, and in broad daylight at a location a  mere stone throw from the Army DMI, the Navy Hydro graphics, Police Area B and, in front of many soldiers doing guard duties on Liverpool road, that man was LYNCHED to death!!!

    They beat and pushed him into the gutter and stoned him to death..

    I haven’t gotten over the shock till today, 8 years after. It was that traumatic..

    C: REALITY ON GROUND

    1. There is an unreasonably huge population of Abokis all over the Southwest.

    2. These people are strategically placed in heavily populated  areas of our state capitals, parading  as Okada riders, scrap collectors, beggars, shoe makers etc..

    3. They live in packed colonies on  any available open spaces where they don’t pay any rent.

    4. They seem to be very organised, very mobile and are usually located within close proximities of security installations such as Army or Police Barracks.

    They are excessively aggressive, instinctively violent and all armed.

    5. They are so confident they treat Police with utter disdain and are not  bothered by the presence of soldiers.

    6.They do their washing, toileting, bathing, eating, indeed, everything right on the street thereby constituting an environment nuisance.

    8. If you ever have an argument with them and it lasts for too long it is an invitation to a mob action which will most likely cost you your life.

    9. They are on constant reconnaissance of our neighbourhoods. They know practically every nook and cranny of their areas of operation.

    10. These people have ALL the trappings and resources for TERRORISM”.

    D: WHAT TO DO

    Although Adetayo made some suggestions in this regard, I would rather leave this to our  SOUTHWEST governors and their security councils, our Kabiyesis and  ALL OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES in the SOUTHWEST to seriously ponder and rescue, not only this generation of Yorubas, but those ones coming behind us.

  • Towards effective Southwest integration

    Towards effective Southwest integration

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    Southwest governors have reiterated their commitment to regional development and integration in the interest of the zone.

    The governors, represented by their commissioners and special advisers on regional integration, said more cooperations and collaborations on education, health, agriculture, transportation and security, would enhance regional development.

    The aides converged on Lagos to review their joint activities aimed at building strategies for common programme implementation.

    Hosted by Lagos State Special Adviser on Regional Integration, Sunmi Lanre Odesanya, the commissioners and special advisers resolved to collaborate on the implementation of the Development Agenda for Western Niger (DAWN) Commission.

    At the parley with the theme: ‘Strengthening Regional Integrationfor SustainableDevelopmentin Southwest Nigeria,’  former House of Representatives Chief Whip and Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) leader Olawale Oshun delivered a lecture titled:”’Enlarging the Organised Southwest Stakeholders and Public for Economic and Social Transformation.’

    At the review meeting were Adetutu Ososanya, a Lagos Permanent Secretary,  K.F. Gbajumo, Permanent Secretary, Office of Secretary to Government, Boye Ologbese, former Ondo State Commissioner for Regional Integration, Ade Kamal from Osun State, Makanjuola Karim, Ekiti State Regional Integration Commissioner, and Damilola Otubanjo from Ogun State.

    The DAWN Director-General, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, spoke on the activities of the commmission and the journey so far.

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    Odesanya, who welcomed his colleagues, said the focal point is the social and economic emancipation of the region, urging latter day leaders to be motivated by the ideas of the development pathfinder, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    He said Southwest should not be left in a dynamic and fast-changing world of change, artificial intelligence and climate change.

    Oyeleye, who traced the the early start in development orientation to the fifties said “if Western Nigeria could build a 25-storey building almost 70 years ago, it should not be difficult to build a regional rail.”

    He recalled that DAWN was set up by the Southwest to fosterregional integration, with the active participation of the six sub-national units, the people and the Diaspora.

    Oyeleye said the Southwest states should work together, share ideas on the economy and security, and explore together the best practices.

    He added:”We are one; we speak the same language. We have the same culture. Our problems are the same.”

    Ologbese, who said he attended the meeting in his personal capacity, hailed the DAWN Director-General, Oyeleye, Odesanya and Oshun for their leadership.

    He noted that the DAWN commission had contributed to the upliftment of the region, stressing that it contributed to the setting up of Amotekun, the security outfit.

    He said the regional security outfit should be strengthened in the six states to provide security for farmers on the farmlands.

    To Karim, DAWN has reminded the Southwest abiut tge pioneering developmental strides of its early political leaders who put the region on the path of development.

    He said:”There is a lot of strength in unity,” adding that with determination, Southwest can accomplish the regional rail project.

    Karim said the DAWN document should remain the guide in the regional approach to development.

    Otubanjo cautioned against the regression to rhetorics, saying that an ‘Action Plan’ for implementation is important.

    Karim said:”Ekiti State is in full support of DAWN and this reflects in our financial commitment. “

    Oshun paid tribute to Awolowo, whose belief in free education, free health, full employment and rural integration, preceded the millennium development goals of poverty eradication, zero hubger, good health and quality education in 2030.

    Emphasising the importance of collective participation and ibterest, he said all stakeholders, with diverse degrees of influence, should show deep interest in the regional development.

    Oshun recalled that if one regional government steered the affairs of the old region, which was made up of six states, Edo State and part of Delta State, then, the current six governments should do better.

    He stressed:”If the most enduring development took stride in the Western Region of yore and tge Southwest of today only formed a component of it, we, then, cannot ignore the potential effect of economies of scale in facilitating development in a given setting.”

    Oshun urged the six governments to focus on security, education, transportation and health while attempting an integration of policy implementation.

    He said: “The most worrisome security issue is tge one that suggests political instability and insurrection as typified by the diverse acts of terrorism across the country. The Southwest, while having the least number of kidnapping acts as a zone in 2021 and 2022, that is, 119 acts out od 3,600 acts across the country, a whoping sum of N248 billion was paid as ransom to the criminals between July 2022 and June 2023.”

    Oshun added:”While no adequate data is available on ransim payments, the Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS 2024) report seems to suggest that a total of N248 billion ransom was paid in the Southwest out of the N2.23 trillion paid across the country. “

    The former legislator lamented that “the most damaging effect of the diverse acts of terrorism is that on agricultural productivity and direct impact on food costs, primary industrial processing znd employment generation”

    He suggested that in tackling insecurity, the region should look at locational and boundary affinities as factors in determining danger-prone areas instead of internal or locality problem.

    Oshun said education should be refocussed, with particular emphasis on the forms of training that can foster industrial and technical productivity.

    He said in developing the state universities, technical colleges should not be neglected.

    On transportation, Oshun urged the governments of Southwest to contruct border roads linking their state.

    Acknowledging that rail transportation is capital expensive,  he advised Southwest to brace the odds.

    Oshun said:”The ongoing consultations among all the Southwest states regarding inter-city fast rail links could provide the impectus for integrative policies on rail development.

    “There is however, a greater need for a review of inter-city road networks that can be converted to four or six lane express roads.”

    Alerting the region to the proposed Southwest Commission, Oshun said while more resources would come to the region, emphasis should be on integrative projects and effective implementation.

    He said:”The governance mode may be determined from the centre and may lack the capacity to manage the huge resources that may be available to them.”

    Oshun also urged the governors to cooperate and shun political differences in regional interest.

    He said: “All collaborative processes rely on mutual understanding and appreciation of differences.  Hence, the governors as heads of their respective states must discount their political differences and continue with their regular consultative zonal meetings and must see themselves as the main agents of change.

    “If and when they do, sustainable growth and development are bound to be outcomes of their desire and vision.”

  • Needless uproar over Sharia in Southwest

    Needless uproar over Sharia in Southwest

    The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) completely misread the apprehensions of the Southwest over the attempt by some individuals in Oyo and Ekiti States to establish Independent Sharia (Arbitration) Panels or Sharia Courts. The apprehensions are well grounded, and it is not surprising that NSCIA can’t seem to grasp that probably the most secular region in Nigeria wants more secularism rather than any genuflection to anything that proposes more religion. There is no judicial system that is intrinsically unqualified to mediate disagreements and conflicts, but in a country where religion has become so badly politicised and even weaponised, and at a time when the country is immersed in unending insurgencies, some of them inspired by religious fanatics, it is unhelpful to accentuate religious differences.

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    Contrary to the impression the NSCIA gave in its public statement of January 29, the groups advocating judicial status quo in the Southwest are a mix of Christians, Muslims and other indigenous religions. They remember how in the name of Islam, the traditional authorities in Ilorin, Kwara State, attempted to unconstitutionally suffocate indigenous religious worship and observances. They also recall and indeed worry that Sharia courts and panels in the North have been unable to stanch the flow of blood in that region, let alone promote tolerance for other religious practices. When it comes to intolerance, the Southwest advocates for secularism allege that the North appears to be the guiltiest.

    After decades of bloodletting in different parts of the world, everyone yearns for more inclusiveness, tolerance and secularism, not the birthing of more religious organs. When about 12 northern states opted for Sharia law during the Olusegun Obasanjo years, beginning with Zamfara State, few expected that the region would become convulsed with mayhem. The Southwest is right to be apprehensive. That apprehension is neither intolerant nor discriminatory; it is instead precautionary. Better not go down a slippery road whose gradient and culmination are unpredictable, especially in a region that continues to remain the enviable bastion of peaceful, harmonious and inclusive living in Nigeria.

  • Southwest governors to create farm unit within Amotekun Corps

    Southwest governors to create farm unit within Amotekun Corps

    • Commissioners meet in Ibadan

    The six Southwest states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti have agreed to strengthen farm security by creating specialised units within the Amotekun Corps.

    Amotekun Corps is the region’s uniform security outfit established to support the work of federal security agencies in the region.

    The decision was part of the agreements reached at a meeting by commissioners for agriculture in the six states in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, yesterday.

    The meeting was a follow-up to the agenda for food security set by governors in the region at their meeting in Lagos last week. The governors resolved to pursue massive food production to achieve food security and curb inflation.

    The Southwest Governors’ Forum had last week directed the commission to convene the meeting with the mandate to fashion out a regional agricultural template. 

    At the meeting held at the DAWN Commission’s office yesterday, the commissioners also agreed to pursue massive land clearing, large-scale production of short-term crops such as maize, sweet potatoes and vegetables. They also agreed to revitalise moribund dams for irrigation, improve mechanisation across the value chain, adopt a cluster farming model, expand input distribution and establish an electronic agriculture database.

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    At the meeting were the commissioners for agriculture – Ebenezer Boluwade (Ekiti), Bolu Owotomo (Ogun), Olayato Aribo (Ondo) Babatola Faseru (Osun) and Olasunkanmi Olaleye (Oyo). Lagos State was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Mr. Emmanuel Audu.

    The Director General of DAWN Commission, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, said it was important to dispel unfounded rumours that the region had lost its capacity to produce its food.

    He urged the meeting, in accordance with the Southwest Governors Forum’s directive, “to come up with recommendations governors can easily implement” within the next few months.

    The recently appointed Managing Director of Southwest Agric Company (SEAgCo.), a subsidiary of Odu’a Investments Ltd., Dr. Theophilus Onadeko, and Chief Kola Akosile from the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) attended the meeting.

  • Southwest governors go into massive food production

    Southwest governors go into massive food production

    • Region rejects Yoruba agitation, okays state police
    • Sanwo-Olu is chair

    A move to boost food production has been ignited in the Southwest.

    The objective is to cut the prices of food items which remain high in the country despite ongoing efforts to bring down inflation.

    Governors in the six Southwest states yesterday gave a marching order to commissioners of agriculture to begin the process that will lead to food security in the geo-political zone.

    They said: “On food security, the forum acknowledges the efforts of the Federal Government and decides that the Honourable Commissioners for Agriculture of all the states should begin to meet and set up a working template, which will ensure collaboration based on each state’s comparative advantage.”

    The governors made this known yesterday after a meeting hosted by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    They commended the Federal Government for turning the sod of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway that will run across three of the states in the zone, and the Badagry to Sokoto Highway, which will pass through Oyo State, but urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to facilitate rehabilitation of other Federal roads in the region.

    Some of the decayed Federal roads in the geo-political zones are: the Lagos-Sango-Ota to Abeokuta, the Ibadan to Ilesa expressway, the Akure to Ado-Ekiti Highway and the Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso to Ilorin Highway.

    All the six governors –Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Ademola Adeleke (Osun) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) – attended the meeting.

    Sanwo-Olu was unanimously picked as chairman of the forum to replace the late former Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who passed on in December last year.

    The governors reaffirmed their backing for Regional Security Network Amotekun and condemned the Yoruba Nation agitation.

    They renewed their backing for state police while expressing relief that Southwest remains the most peaceful region in the country.

    The governors urged the Senate to concur with the House of Representatives by passing the Southwest Development Commission Bill.

    Sanwo-Olu read an 11-point resolution of the meeting which states as follows:

    •The Forum unanimously nominated and adopted the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as its Chairman.

    •The Forum paid its last respects to its late Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu, SAN, CON, and also congratulated the new Governor of Ondo State, H.E Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for winning the All Progressives Congress’s (APC’s) Governorship ticket for the next election.

    •The governors adopted Ise wa fun ile wa as Southwest Anthem.

    •The meeting commends the House of Representatives and Southwest Caucus for their efforts at passing the Southwest Development Commission Bill and looks forward to its speedy passage by the Senate.

    •The meeting commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the groundbreaking of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, the proposed Lagos to Sokoto road and encourages the Federal Government to rehabilitate other Federal roads in the region.

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    •On security, the Forum commends the relative peace in the Southwest region and notes the collaboration between all security agencies and the Amotekun Corps. It reaffirms its full support for State Police.

    •On food security, the Forum acknowledges the efforts of the Federal Government and decides that the Honourable Commissioners for Agriculture of all the states should begin to meet and set up a working template, which will ensure collaboration based on each State’s comparative advantage.

    •On Minimum Wage, the Forum supports the efforts of the Federal Government, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Organised Private Sector in their ongoing conversations with the Labour Union. We believe the outcome will reflect true fiscal federalism.

    •The Forum also encourages the Federal Government’s efforts on mineral resource exploitation. There should be further collaboration between the Federal Government and States, especially in granting leases to investors.

    •The Forum condemns in strong terms the group of people agitating for the Yoruba nation.

    •The Forum agrees to strengthen the DAWN Commission on operational efficiency and charges the Commission to focus on economic integration, cooperation and investment promotion of Southwest states. To that end, each state is mandated to appoint a state focal person.

  • Southwest leaders ‘unify for democracy’

    Southwest leaders ‘unify for democracy’

    Leaders from Yoruba groups: Afenifere, Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), Yoruba General Assembly, and monarchs have called for unity among Nigerians to strengthen democracy.

     They spoke at Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda Southwest Summit organised by Yoruba Patriots’ Movement (YPM) and Southwest Coalition of Civil Societies.

    Among attendees were General Alani Akinrinade (rtd), represented by former Vice–Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Prof Isaac Adewole; Emeritus Prof Olu Aina.

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    A communique after the summit stressed importance of  reforms for sustainable development.

    They stressed that Yoruba elders and stakeholders support the reforms and collaborate with other regions.

    Other resolutions included establishment of a Peace and Productivity Commission,  importance of large-scale agriculture for food production and security, and need for summits in Southwest states.

  • Southwest: Beyond the toga of statism

    Southwest: Beyond the toga of statism

    The Lagos State Government recently endorsed a food production agreement with the Niger State Government. The partnership, known as the ‘Produce for Lagos Initiative’, is aimed at ensuring a steady flow of agricultural products to the end consumers. Interestingly, this agreement is coming at a time Sheik Ahmad Abubakar Gumi is warning the Federal Government of Nigeria that unless it negotiates with the terrorists and bandits, recent attacks will be “the tip of the iceberg”.

    Well, irrespective of what Gumi stands to profit from this threatening statement, it is obvious that insecurity in Nigeria is spreading and no region is immune from its fatal fangs. It is a statement of fact that, in this existential situation, nobody is safe. Sadly, Nigeria is beginning to look like a failing state and it is as if the terrorists are winning. Against the concept of the Peace of Westphalia which midwifed what we now call a modern state, what we are having is a direct challenge to the state. That 17 military personnel were murdered in Delta State by some yet-to-be-identified men could only be likened to a declaration of war on Nigeria’s sovereignty. To get things right therefore, one major step will be the fortification of the ‘Amotekun’ security outfit. The Southwest has to find a way of containing the spread of this madness before it’s too late. But, as it is, can an ‘Amotekun’ operative bear a rifle of the AK 47 brand? Therefore, President Bola Tinubu as a federalist must use his authority to evolve an Executive Bill that’ll devolve internal security mechanisms so that ‘Amotekun’ can be strengthened and its operatives properly trained to become Special Forces that can fight in the forests.

    Just as the late Rotimi Akeredolu spearheaded the establishment ‘Amotekun’ in the security sector, time is also ripe for the establishment of an ‘Amotekun’ in the agricultural sector by setting up a public-private partnership of Commodities Exchange before the end of this year. The governors should sit down with the likes of Akinwumi Adesina, currently of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other agronomists from the Southwest and in the Diaspora with a view to lighting up an immediate, short-, medium- and long-term agricultural rejuvenation for the region. Fortunately, the states have the capacity to crowd-fund in a way that can link research with finance and export markets.

    During the campaigns, Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) promised to establish a National Commodity Board if elected into office. So, how far has his government gone with making the promise become a reality? In my considered opinion, the president should encourage the sub-nationals to set up Commodities Exchange with the minimum farm gate guarantees to modulate prices. In this way, the farmer produces more because he has the guarantee of selling all his farm produce. This system no doubt increases production. The Commodities Exchange provides storage facilities and increase markets. With these, everybody gains: the farmers produce at guaranteed prices and, because of the increase in production, the economies of scale makes it cheaper for the end-user. 

    Still on Agriculture, the best analysis is still the speech given by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the Leader of Government Business in the Western House of Assembly, introducing the motion for the establishment of the Cooperative Bank. The Cooperative Bank was set up in 1953, not as a Bank per se but to modernize agriculture in Western Nigeria – to move it from subsistence to commercial farming. But where is the Cooperative Bank as of today? Why wasn’t it recapitalized like Rabobank in the Netherlands and Crédit Agricole CIB in France, interestingly the two banks that have now become major pivotal lending forces to agricultural development in the two countries? Unarguably, Rabobank is one of the key reasons the Netherlands is the world’s 2nd largest exporter of food and agricultural products, in spite of its having exactly the same land mass as Ekiti State.

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    Now that we have allowed the Cooperative Bank to go down, what are we going to use to revive it? Are the Southwest governors going to bring back the Cooperative Bank or are they going to start off another Bank to modernize agriculture because farming in the region is still primitive?  Awolowo’s goals succeeded to an extent! But what instruments do we have today? Time it was in Nigeria when the Western Region was setting the pace. Now, where is the region in the scheme of things? Once upon a time in Nigeria, Western Region’s warehouses in London were edifices to behold. Where are they now? What has become of the Cocoa Warehouses at Ikeja and Apapa? From the look of things, Awolowo is just a slogan used to win elections. Once that is achieved, our politicians forget about ‘Awo’, until another election cycle. Is it any wonder that the Awolowo family doesn’t take them seriously again?

    Statism in this context does not translate into abolishing the state. Instead, it is about preaching the coming together of the state governments for regional aggregation for modernization. What we are saying here is that the states do not have the capital base or technical capacity to make a forward advance on their own. In other words, there is nothing wrong with statism except that we now know that the states do not have the fiscal mechanism to become real sub-nationals. So, they must come together to start with two or three key issues, starting with the modernization of agriculture and education to make Yorubaland competitive again.

    Let it be noted that nobody is advocating the abolition of the Yoruba State because it’s not going to happen! However, it is a fact of life that statism as a political system has set the Yoruba nation back. Indeed, this is the weakest ebb the Yoruba has ever had since the treaty that ended the Kiriji War. Basically, the treaty that ended the 16-year civil war triggered a renaissance, especially in terms of education, agriculture and others in Western Nigeria. Had successive Yoruba leaders been diligent in their responsibilities, the Yoruba nation would by now have been ways ahead of other regions. So, why not invoke the spirit that led to the massive development of the Western Region and the building of a modern Yorubaland based on modernized, value-addition agriculture? After all, there is no alternative to working together!

    As the pioneer Administrative Secretary of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) and an active participant in the efforts that led to the publication of the ‘Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Strategy Roadmap’, aka DAWN Document, yours sincerely can attest to its richness in solutions to the challenges confronting Yorubaland. But how many of our governors even have copies of that Document for regional integration, let alone digest its contests? Again, this is where we have been failing as a nation and people.

    It is unfortunate that the leaders of the Yoruba nation have become too complacent. It is also sad that Yorubaland has been reduced to a loaf of bread with the privileged clique and entrenched interests taking as many slices as they please, thereby leaving the mass of the people pathetically deprived. Ours has become a land with so much divinely-deposited assets but languishing in inexpressible poverty. It is the reason an Ogbomoso indigene is not interested in what happened between Awolowo and Ladoke Akintola. It is also the reason an Ijebu man sees an Ogbomoso man as his enemy without bothering to dig up the reasons for the bitter politics that ultimately succeeded in putting the two families on the path of permanent acrimony.

    May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!