Prominent Yoruba leaders say that the panacea to the challenges facing the South-West is to restructure the country.
The Yoruba leaders including the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo; Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN Commission, Dr Seye Oyeleye; Chairman of Voice of Reason, VOR, Mr Olusola Adekanola, and Dr. Segun Aina, convened on Tuesday, made the suggestion to the President Bola Tinubu.
The Yoruba leaders made the call at the Goke Omisore Annual Lecture (GOAL2023) themed: “South-West Regional Integration: The Dawn Commission Approach”, organised by the VOR in Lagos.
In the celebration which was held in honour of Prince Nicholas Omisore, the leaders stressed that the South-West was suffering from under-development.
The Afenifere leader, Pa Adebanjo said: “The real cause of our problem is federalism and lack of regional autonomy, which is why the DAWN Commission is asking questions.
“Let me state that we have not surpassed the efforts of our past leaders. We can move forward, but not under this constitution.
“The colonialists brought us together without our consent. At the time, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo told the colonial masters that they could not rule Nigeria under a unitary system of government.
“All the theories that Awolowo spoke against are still being practised today. Let us forget aggrandisement, let the President change the constitution to a federal system, where each region would develop at its own pace.”
