Southwest elders stress security, economy as governors meet

Elders from Yorubaland have reminded Southwest governors to place security, economy and welfare of the region topmost on their agenda, as they meet in Abeokuta, Ogun State tomorrow.

The elder statesmen, who spoke to The Guardian, were: Chairman of Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, its Secretary, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa and a former Police Commissioner Mr. Samuel Adetuyi.

They harped on security, economy and a revisit of the Confab report, stressing that although they wouldn’t like to meddle in the governors’ affairs, the welfare of the people in the region can’t but be paramount.

Afenifere leader, Fasoranti said: “I don’t want to pre-empt them at all and read their minds, let them hold their meeting and publish their communiqué so we know how it goes.

“We are not enemies, but we have not been working together. What they are doing will be in the interest of the region as Afenifere does most of the time. We are not part of them.”

However, Bashorun Arogbofa noted that the governors’ meeting was a welcome development, remarking: “The assumption is that they will develop this zone before the nation at large. This is not their first meeting; I am aware, as Odua members, they have been holding meetings mainly on the permanent development of the region.”