Yoruba leaders at Fajuyi’s lecture insist on restructuring
Yoruba leaders yesterday insisted that restructuring and true federalism remained the key elements to reposition the country at the 50th anniversary of the death of Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, the then military administrator of western region.
Fajuyi was brutally assassinated in a counter coup alongside his boss and Military Head of state, General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi.
The leaders included General Olufemi Olatoye (rtd) who is now the Alani of Ido-Ani, Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasonranti,Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Gen Alani Akinrinade (rtd), Chief Cornelius Adebayo, Sehinde Arogbofa, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Dr Kunle Olajide, Prof Banji Akintoye and Pastor Tunde Bakare among others.
They particularly lamented that the current hardship being faced by states and the inability of most state governors to meet their financial obligations to their citizens was due to the nation’s structural defects.
The event held at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan ( UI) was organized by a socio- political group, “Yoruba Think –Tank”, which comprises eminent Yoruba leaders of thought. The high point of the event was a lecture delivered by erudite scholar, poet and social critic, Prof Niyi Osundare titled: “ Adekunle Fajuyi, Politics of Remembrance”, which set the tone and agenda of the meeting. Osundare in his thought provoking lecture said Nigeria as currently constituted is not in ‘unity’.
At the end of the well attended meeting, the leaders resolved that the only way out of the present economic crisis was restructuring of the polity to enable each federating units develop at its own pace. To actualize its goal, the group resolved to set up a committee with representatives drawn from the south west states as well as other states where Yoruba people are based, to work on its objectives.
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1 Comments
Restructuring what?
And restructuring to what?
What is true federalism?
We will review and take appropriate action.