As part of efforts to improve the quality of political discourse, strengthen democratic accountability and promote development-oriented leadership in the South-West ahead of the 2027 general election, a new regional political platform, the Odu’a House Initiative, has been unveiled in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The initiative, conceived by the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the South-West, is modelled after Chatham House, the London-based international affairs think tank, and is expected to provide a neutral and intellectually engaging forum where political aspirants can present, defend and debate their programmes before the electorate.

The association said the platform would also establish a properly documented archive of political engagements, policy proposals and ideas for the benefit of scholars, journalists, policymakers and future generations.

The Regional President of the association and former Chairman of the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Demola Badejo, disclosed details of the initiative when he led members of the association on a visit to the management of the Tribune Group in Ibadan.

Badejo was accompanied by the Regional General Secretary, Pastor (Mrs) Adenike Olufade­wa; Assistant General Secretary, Alhaji Adekunle Adegbite; and an Oyo State member, Adeyanju S.

He said the association was seeking the partnership of the Tribune Group, particularly because of the organisation’s long-standing role in political education, public enlightenment and documentation of the political and socio-economic history of the South-West.

“We believe that such a platform can contribute significantly to improving the quality of political discourse and democratic accountability in our region,” Badejo said.

He said the association’s immediate request was for the Tribune Group to become a partner in the Odu’a House Initiative, adding that the organisation was already exploring technical collaboration with relevant institutions.

According to him, he had visited Chatham House to explore the possibility of securing technical support and guidance for the proposed platform.

He also disclosed that discussions were underway with the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) to bring broadcast media organisations into the initiative.

Badejo stressed that the media should not be regarded merely as a channel for reporting the activities of governments, civil society organisations and development agencies, but as a strategic partner in development, advocacy, public enlightenment and democratic accountability.

“No meaningful development agenda can succeed without effective communication,” he said, noting that even well-conceived policies could fail to gain public understanding or support if their objectives and potential impact were not properly communicated.

He described the choice of Tribune as a partner as one rooted in the historical relationship between the newspaper and the South-West.

According to him, the Tribune Group, established in Ibadan in 1949 by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, had for decades played a significant role in the political, social, economic, educational and cultural development of the region and the country.

“Through your various publications, you have provided a platform through which the aspirations, concerns and opinions of our people have been articulated,” he said.

The association has also published a document titled Proposed Plan of Action for the Economic Development of the South-West Region, which, according to Badejo, was launched by the six governors of the region. A copy of the publication was presented to the Tribune management during the visit.

Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Tribune Group, its General Editor, Dr. Taiwo Adisa, commended the retired senior civil servants for continuing to contribute to society despite leaving active public service.

Adisa also acknowledged the association’s collaboration with the South-West Development Commission, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and Odu’a Investment Company Limited.

He described Odu’a Investment Company as an offshoot of the vision and development programmes associated with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and said initiatives aimed at reviving regional cooperation remained important to the development of the South-West.

Adisa assured the delegation that Tribune was prepared to partner the association on its programmes, particularly the Odu’a House Initiative.

He commended  the former senior bureaucrats for visiting the Tribune Group, describing the organisation as the premier private newspaper group in the South-West.