By Adeyinka Adeniran
Yoruba Diaspora organization, Yoruba One Voice (YOV) has applauded the six Southwest governors for throwing their weights behind restructuring to regionalism.
Recall that Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ademola Adeleke, (Osun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo); Dapo Abiodun, (Ogun) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) at a recent meeting in Lagos, also restated the need for restructuring to regionalism, even as they agreed to create inter-state collaboration, where all the Commissioners for Agriculture from each of the states would convene regularly to develop a coordinated approach that would boost food production and security.
The governors also appointed their Lagos state counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum.
Expressing delight at the governors’ move, YOV in a statement by the General Secretary, Prince Adedokun Ademiluyi, said the new development has shown that the governors are ready to work on the mandate given to them to move the region forward by providing an enabling environment that would enhance growth and development across the Southwest.
“Nigeria is presently confronted with various challenges, resulting from the fundamental issues involving the structural defects of the Nigerian nation.
“The clamour for restructuring to regionalism has continued to take the centre stage of our national discourse because of the obvious challenges emanating from the structure of this country.
“However, the spate of insecurity across the country has remained a hard nut to crack, especially for the Federal Government even as the state governments have been so helpless in the face of the security scourge.
“From Boko Haram insurgency in the North East; to terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in the North West and North Central; and the rise of separatist movements in the South East, the security apparatus of Nigeria is under immense pressure.
“With these challenges, the need for restructuring to regionalism is very pertinent and the call for state police is very urgent.
“It is on this note that the Yoruba One Voice has continued to call for restructuring to regionalism as the best approach to solving the structural deficits of the country.
“As far as we are concerned, we believe in the unity of the Yoruba. We commended the Southwest governors for the adoption of a Yoruba Unity Anthem for the entire region.
“The anthem was originally composed by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1978. But it was first adopted by the Osun state government, under Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as the governor of the state. The anthem was later adopted by the Ondo state government during the administration of the late Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu till date.
“The anthem, with the lyrics “Ise Wa Fun Ile Wa”, symbolizes regional glory, unity of purpose and progress with a unified roadmap for social and economic integration among the six states in the Southwest region. All the six states in Southwest have adopted the Yoruba unity anthem.
“There is no better time other than now for us to create an enduring synergy that will strengthen the bond among the state governors, and also reinvent the spirit of Omoluabi that the Yoruba all over the world and most especially in the Southwest region is noted for”.
Prince Ademiluyi further noted that the diaspora organization will remain a formidable voice in Nigeria.
“We will not relent, we will continue to raise our voices, especially, on issues that have to do with the progress of the Yoruba and the well-being of the people of our race and Nigeria as a whole”, the YOV scribe stated.
