Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission has appealed to Yoruba self-determination and socio-political advocates to focus on advocating true federalism, noting that Yoruba nation is better off within the Nigerian state.
  
The Director-General of the Commission, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, who spoke, yesterday, at the Voice of Reason’s (VoR) Goke Omisore Annual Lecture, tagged: “Regional Integration: the DAWN Commission Approach,” held in Lagos, stated that the mandate of the commission limits it to work only within the ambit of the Nigerian state.
  
Oyeleye, who described President Bola Tinubu as an avowed democrat, with a track record as a federalist, stated that if the President fails, Yoruba people would partake in the blame. “We therefore have no choice but to mobilise support for this administration,” he said.
 
The DG identified investment in common ancestry, promotion of cultural democracy, investment in education to produce the most resourceful young ones, development of social capital as an engine for wealth creation, creating social institutions that promote Yoruba value system, proactive and patience, and continuous demand on Nigeria, as proposals to rebuild the Yoruba commonwealth.
   
Oyeleye also called for urgent constitutional changes in state policing, amendment of the revenue-sharing formula and the introduction of a clause to allow states to collaborate for development purposes, adding that achieving these would unlock the next growth phase of Nigeria.  
   
He said: “We need to examine what is wrong with our nationalism and find cultural dimensions to resolve them. Specifically, we should covet and pursue the establishment of an annual Yoruba Nationalism Conference that will bring together under one roof leaders of all socio-cultural, sociopolitical, and religious organisations together to examine the state of our nation.  As long as such gathering is apolitical and non-judgmental, it can offer a proactive strategy to deal with issues that have the potential to weaken our nationalism before they arise.

We have a Homeland Affairs unit at DAWN Commission and our experience is that there are too many socio political organisations working in silos.

“Awolowo’s commitment to cultural democracy, gave rise to the proposal to create regions for minority ethnic groups out of the three regions of the First Republic. He was the only regional leader that was willing to give the minority a voice. That commitment was only evident in Western Region as it led to the creation of the Midwest region. The Yoruba does not seek to dominate anyone, neither will it accept domination.
   
“But today, there are sub-ethnic and interest groups that feel alienated in Yorubaland and they are translating their grievances into agitation for affirmative action. We have to be proactive in addressing such grievances, particularly but not limited to religious and demographic grievances.”