WHEN YORUBA LEADERS MEET TO PUSH FOR REGIONAL AUTONOMY

FROM LEFT IS GENERAL ALANI IPOOLA AKINRINADE; THE CONVENER OF THE ASSEMBLY.

          Those who can be refer to as movers and shakers of the present Southwest politics gathered at the historic defunct Western Region House of Assembly (now Oyo State House of Assembly) to discuss issues as they affect the region. Musliudeen Adebayo reports that the event that attracted personalities from all walks of life will tends to shape the fortunes of the region if the communiqué issued will be thoroughly pursued.

Eminent Yoruba leaders from all walks of life gathered at the Oyo State House of Assembly parliament buildings Ibadan on Thursday 30^th August to brainstorm and to find solutions to the key issues affecting the Yoruba race and Nigeria as a whole. The house according to history was the first in Nigeria, it has played host several conferences and motions that have shaped the fortune of the region and Nigeria as a whole; politically, economically socially and culturally.

The occasion which is the maiden edition tagged Yoruba Assembly organized by Yoruba National Assembly has General Alani Ipoola Akinrinade (Rtd) as its convener. It had the attendance of traditional rulers, serving and past state governors and their deputies, past members of the national assembly, captains of industries, legal luminaries, academia, professionals, Yoruba social political groups, students both within and outside the present day Southwest Nigeria (Oyo, Osun, Ondo,Ekiti and Ogun states) and parts of Kwara, Edo, Delta, Itsekiri both home and in the Diaspora.

The assembly task according to him (Akinrinade) “is to interrogate various issues that are affecting the race and find solutions to them accordingly”. A communiqué that centered on real federal system and regional autonomy that will give room for  creation of states police, constitution amendment, open secret ballot system, decentralization of powers at the centre to give more powers to states, rights to free education, and formal roles for traditional institution in the constitution among others was also issued at the occasion.

The retired general who noted that it is not only the region that is clamoring for self government, regional autonomy, state police constitution amendment among others said regional autonomy is the answer to region and Nigeria’s woes saying it will provide right to free education for all, equal political, economic rights for all.

He also said they can still experience the good days of 60s if there is regional autonomy in the region. He pointed that most edifices and structures such Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) (now NTA Ibadan) which is the first in Africa, first state secretariat Ibadan, first House of Assembly in Nigeria Ibadan, Cocoa House Ibadan, Liberty Stadium (now Obafemi Awolowo stadium), OAU Ile- Ife, which are legacies of the region today are products of the defunct Western Region government during the days of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and late Samuel Akintola.

He advocated for a true federal system of government that will make federal government have less power compared to what is obtainable now as he advocated for more powers for the states to carry out some projects on power generation, security, employment creation, rail system among others.

The former speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Dimeji Bankole urged Yorubas to unite irrespective of political, social and economic ideologies saying he will always support any move to move the nation forward but cushioned on assemblies and calls for regional or ethnic government that may disintegrate the country.

Oyo State Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi who spoke on behalf of his colleagues in the southwest also called for state police that will make states to have its own security apparatus instead of waiting fro order from above to solve its peculiar security challenges. The governor who was also the host governor also called for the amendment of 1999 constitution that gives more powers to the centre.

The speaker of the state House of Assembly Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu who noted that they will continue to fight for the unity of the race called for support of women in politics and other areas to make them relevant and to contribute their own quota to development t of the country at large.

Dr. Dipo Famakinwa in his presentation titled “Ibi Awi La de Yi o” “this is where we are” who noted that the true federalism will give room for regional government to fully operate will enhance healthy rivalry among various groups in the region, promotion of equal rights for all, security of lives and property, internal democracy, education for all, accountability and transparency enjoined others to championing the cause.

Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) who described Yorubas as people of uncommon peculiarities, culture heritage language and skills in his presentation decried the marginalization of Yorubas in his presentation federal structure as he tasked southwest governors and other personalities in the region  to rise up to the marginalization . The Ibadan born legal luminary who noted that Yorubas constitutes about 40% of the Nigeria population said it is worrisome that Yorubas are marginalized in judiciary, customs, immigration, INEC, and other federal agencies.

 Akintola who also flayed the concentration of powers at the centre said 68 items are on the exclusive legislative list while only 12 are on the concurrent legislative list which makes it difficult for state governors to execute some developmental projects in the areas of power generation rail system also berated the existing presidential system of government as too expensive to run which encourages corruption.

There were other presentations by the wife of the late Bashorun MKO Abiola; the winner of the annulled June 12 1993 presidential election Mrs Bisi Abiola, the Yoruba Foundation United Kingdom, and other various groups. The Yorubas in Kwara, Kogi, Edo, and Delta states in their own contributions demanded for a system that will unite them with their kith and kin (Yorubas) of the present day Southwest Nigeria. They faulted several states creation exercises that carved them away from their blood which makes the dominating groups in their states to neglect them.

Among those who graced the occasion includes former military governor of Western Region; Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo represented by Dr. Dejo Raimi; a former secretary to Oyo State Government, former governors of Osun, Ekiti, Ogun and Oyo states Chief Bisi Akande who is also the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National chairman, Chief Adeniyi Adebayo, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Alh. Lamidi Adesina represented by Hon. Isiaq Kolawole, , Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, his deputy Mrs Titilayo Laoye Tomori and Chief of Staff Alh. Gboyega Isiaka, deputy governor of Ogun State; Chief Segun Adesegun who sat for Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Delta State commissioner for Health; Dr. Joseph Otuamara who represented Dr. Uduaghan of Delta and deputy governor of Oyo State Hon. Moses Adeyemo Alake.

 Bar. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN); ACN governorship candidate in Ondo State, Dr. Fredric Fasehun; OPC founder, Chief Michael Adeojo; CEO Elizade Motors, Senators Olorunnibe Mamora, Babafemi Ojudu and Ajayi Robert Borofice, Otunba Dele Ajomole; ACN chair in Lagos State, Hon. Rotimi Makinde, Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye, vice chancellor Ekiti State University; Pro. Dipo Aina, Alagba Adebayo Faleti also made the list.

Traditional rulers which includes the Olubadan of Ibadanland represented by a high chief from the city, (Oyo) Akran of Badagri, (Lagos) Olufi of Gbongan, Orangun of Ila, Ataoja of Osogbo, (Osun) Deji of Akure, (Ondo)  Elekole of Ikole (Ekiti) and others were not left out at the occasion.

Council boss pledges support for corps members

The council boss , Hon. Lapade

The caretaker committee chairman of Ibadan North Local Government area of Oyo State Hon. Idris Babatunde Lapade has promised to give adequate support to corps members posted to serve in the local government so as to make their one year national service in the area a memorable one.

He stated this on Wednesday August 22^nd when the Oyo State coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Pastor Alao Olanipekun and his management team paid him a courtesy visit as part of the familiarization visit to the council secretariat.  

The council chair who praised the scheme for impacting knowledge and skills on its members also hailed the coordinator in diplomatic approach in handling and settling various issues brought before him by the council.

          Lapade who promised to donate benches to the NYSC orientation camp at Iseyin before the next mobilization exercise also promised to rent a befitting house to be use as temporary corpers lodge in the local government to ease the suffering of corps members posted to the council.  He said the lodge will cater for the accommodation need of the corps members pending the time a modern day one will be constructed by the council.

          The state coordinator Pastor Olanipekun in his response praised the council herdsman for the vision he has for the scheme just as he urged other political office holders to support the scheme instead of calling for its abolition. He said the scheme has impacted on both the members and the society in several ways since its establishment in 1973.

          The session had the attendance of scribe of the council Mr. Adamu Bello, the Information Officer Alh. Adesola Busari, other principal officers of the council and corps members from the local government.

Journalism: a challenging profession- Ex- NTA director

                 

A former Zonal Director of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Ibadan Network Centre, Prince Bayo Sanda has described journalism as a challenging profession that has to be practice with utmost care.

Prince Sanda stated this on Tuesday 20^th August while speaking as the guest lecturer on the topic “challenges of broadcasting industry in a multiparty state” organized by the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) Abuja Ibadan centre to mark end of its 2011/2012 academic session.

The lecture that took place at the institution’s campus located at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat Iyaganku, Ibadan was attended by a former Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) General Manager Alh. Kola Animasahun, Chief Executive Officer Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) Mr. Yanju Adegbite, a former Commissioner of Information in the State Alh Gboyega Arulogun, Coordinator of the centre who is also a former Commissioner for Works Alh. Bolaji Kareem, media practitioners, alumni, students and lecturers of the institution featured presentation of awards to some of the outstanding students of the institution.

The Oyo born veteran broadcaster who is also the chairman, board of director of BCOS who urged journalists to be careful , knowledgeable, decent, creative and practice within the purview of the existing laws highlighted poor funding , political instability, crises, sentiment/ nepotism, conflicts of interest as some of the factors militating against the broadcasting industry across the globe.

“You have to be creative and this will make you one step ahead of your peers, courageous and aware of the existing laws so as to know what the laws permit you to do and what not to do because you are gatekeepers who decide what goes on air. This is a challenging profession you are about to do or some of you are into the system but it is a tasking one and this make you a step ahead of other professionals”. He said.

The formed director who urged them to admit any mistakes committed in the course of doing their job emphasized subjective-objective approach to journalism profession where they marry both the ethics of the profession and environmental factors such as mood of the society, national interest and the existing laws together in their reportage so as not to be extreme on any other the sides.  

The outgoing president of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution Mr. Femi Olapegba said the “International Institute of Journalism IIJ Abuja Ibadan centre is one of the centres of IIJ, an affiliate of the University of Maiduguri Borno State has been a training institute for thousands of journalists who have had a certificates in any of the courses of the institution such as National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and the Post-Graduate Diploma within and outside the country”.

Musliudeen Adebayo, this reporter is one of the recently graduated Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism student of the institution.

UI Imam hails Sultan’s leadership style

The Chief Imam of University of Ibadan Central Mosque Prof. Abdulrahman Oloyede has on Sunday commended the leadership style being exhibited by the Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence Alh. Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar 111 in handling various religious and other related issues since he became the Sultan.

Oloyede gave the commendation in Ibadan the Oyo State capital in his sermon shortly after he lead the congregation of Muslim faithfuls at the University of Ibadan Eld prayers ground to observe the two Rakah compulsory Nafilat to mark the 1433 Eld- Fitri celebration which marks the end of the 30-day Ramadan fasting.

The Imam who prayed for the God’s guidance for the Grand Commander of Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of Nigeria urged other Muslims and religious leaders to emulate the Sultan’s exemplary characters, leadership style and diplomatic ways in handling and settling various religious and related issues within and outside the country.

The cleric who tasked Muslims to learn from the teachings of the holy month of Ramadan the 9^th month in Islamic calendar which include patience, pious, perseverance and purification of souls also reminded the congregation about the compulsory six (6) fasting to be observed before the end of  Shawl the 10^th month of the Islamic calendar.

Oloyede who said the religion of Islam means nothing but peace and not violence or terrorism wondered why some groups whose roots could not be traced in the religion involves in acts of violence in the name of fighting for the religion.

In a related development, Muslim faithfuls who observed the Itikaf at University of Ibadan Central Mosque have commended the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria UI branch for the successful completion of this year’s Itikaf program.

The cross section of the Mu’takif (those who observed the Itikaf) gave the commendation while relieving their experiences shortly after the termination of the program on Sunday. The participants said they were overwhelmed by the organization of the programs, lectures and the security measures put in place during the exercise.

The Itikaf usually starts on 20^th night of Ramadan and terminated the night before Eld -Fitri or shortly after the Eld prayer where male or female leaves his or her house to a secluded place mostly mosques to ask for Allah’s forgiveness and blessings which are parts of the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (SAW) during Ramadan fasting.