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.