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There was a renewed agitation for restructuring of the country to accelerate unprecedented development by stakeholders in the South West.
They were of the opinion that the country cannot make any progress under the present constitutional arrangement that makes the center to be too powerful and concentrate powers at the center.
According to them, “Nigeria has over 350 ethnic groups with diverse beliefs and ideologies and most of them are claiming to be marginalised and ready to go their separate ways, hence the country cannot make any progress under the present constitutional arrangement.”
The clamour by the west was expressed at the first edition of the Dipo Famakinwa Colloquium organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, in conjunction with the Yoruba Academy and Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), in Ibadan with the theme, ‘Restructuring: Ending the talk and starting the walk.’
The event held at the House of Chiefs had in attendance scholars, member of the academic community, government officials, students, community leaders, trade groups, Socio-culturally groups, clerics from both Christians and Muslims and artisans among others from the south West Zone.
In his address, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State said there was need for restructuring of the country to develop.
Ajimobi, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Adeniyi Olowofela, said: “These values are non-negotiable and form the bedrock of nation-building. For these values to be given expression in the Nigerian nation, the structural defects and deficiencies of the construct of the nation must be addressed as expressed by popular consensus of the people through: renegotiation of Nigerian Federal nation; organising for regional actions; mobilisation of regional endowments and assets; optimising the space for development through the regions to achieving sustainable growth in Nigeria; fiscal federalism and decentralisation of Nigeria.”
He described the late Famakinwa’s contribution to the strategic and tactical rethink of Western Nigeria as instructive and pivotal, noting that paying tribute to and sustaining the memory and good work of such individual is fundamentally apt.
On his part, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adeniyi Akintola lamented that if Nigeria is not restructured, the present federal structure cannot sustain the county for another 25 years.
“For those that still believe so much in the corporate existence of Nigeria, we should know that the present structure cannot sustain this country for another 25 years. It is totally impossible. The world is already becoming a neighbourhood and it is no more a global village.
“Nigeria is the only federation in the world with unitary police, even the State of Britain that is unitary in form has many formations and organisations. In the United States, as at the last count, they have more than 78,000 police formations, including universities. Each higher institution in the United States has police formation, recognised by the state,” he added
Akintola, who is a governorship aspirant under All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, noted that “restructuring is the mantra of an average south westerner. I know that the present structure cannot sustain the county for another 25years. We need to give the DAWN commission every support. When the late Bola Ige was advocating for integration, we never knew the country would ever be in this state. He who wants peace must be ready for war. We will not take another neo-colonialism from anybody. This country will not move forward unless we restructure.
Other speakers at the event demanded for true federalism and devolution of powers from the centre as the only solution to socio-political ills facing the country.
Executive Director, Yoruba Academy, Ade Adeagbo, on behalf of the institutions organising the event, said the event will highlight the values and ideals which Famakinwa lived and died for and nudge Nigerians to seek local solutions to national challenges.
Director General, DAWN Commission, Seye Oyeleye in his remarks noted that the event was to celebrate the late Famakinwa’s devoted energy in the last 7-8 years to what is today known as DAWN commission.
Widow of the late DG, Ibironke Famakinwa appreciated the DAWN Commission for honouring her husband.
Akinremi Feyisipo, Ibadan
