Prominent leaders of Yoruba race under the aegis of Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative have called on the Federal Government to begin in earnest, the process of implementation of the 2014 National Conference report before 2019 general elections.
They made this suggestion on Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital at a unity retreat organised by Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative.
The leaders, who emphasised Yoruba unity, noted that there is a national consensus that Nigeria is overdue for restructuring.
They insisted that the present government should as a matter of urgency begin the implementation due to the relevance of the report to address various agitation and address the present socio-economic challenges in the country.
The leaders then urged the Federal Executive Council as well as the legislative arm of government to ensure that the process of implementation come to past before the 2019 general elections.
Among those who spoke on behalf of the race are a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George.
George while declaring support for restructuring of the country warned that the mistakes of the past should not be allowed to be repeated and truncate the unity of Yoruba race.
He said, being a member of the conference, it afforded him the opportunity to present solutions to the country’s problems which if implemented will address various problems the country is presently facing.
George added that the thoughts of former Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, should be revisited in administering South West states.
He further maintained that he read Awolowo’s methodology in education, health, politics, said any governor in the region could pick it up and sincerely manage the states successfully.
Chief George while appealing for those clamouring for secession to think twice urged the Federal Government to do all what it can to ensure that Nigeria does not go to war for another time.
He warned that it will be devastating if should Nigeria go to another civil war as he posited that “No nation has ever survive two civil wars”.
Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel who also threw his weight behind restructuring of Nigeria, described the 2014 national conference report as a good document that will make Nigeria move forward.
In his opening remarks, Convener of the retreat, Otunba Deji Osibogun, noted that after several years of debate on how to bring the Nigerian people together to agree on the modalities for restructuring the polity, the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo convened the National Political Reform Conference in 2005.
“But the initiative did not douse the agitation, prompting the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to convene another national conference in 2014. The 2014 dialogue was acknowledged to have made very far reaching decisions on the required constitutional reforms to effect the desired restructuring.
“Not only did the conference address major issues of concern such as devolution of power, relative autonomy, resource control and fiscal federalism, among others, participants from all over the country unanimously agreed to the final report of the conference, which was submitted by Justice Kutigi to the Federal Government.
“Today, there is no doubt that there is a national consensus that Nigeria is overdue for restructuring. Therefore, we urge the federal executive and legislative arm of government to begin the process of implementing, or reviewing for implementation, the report of the 2014 national conference and ensure that it is completed before the 2019 general elections.
“The report is a working document already at hand. It contains the considered opinion of the people of Nigeria, represented by participants from various sections of the country on the issues concerned. It cannot be pushed aside or dumped in the ashes of history.”
Other speakers at the event include Chief Olapade Agoro who urged the Yoruba race to stand with the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, especially at this trying period in the nation.
Others who spoke include a member of the Senate of Nigeria for Ondo State from 2007 to 2011, Senator Bode Olajumoke; a legal luminary, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN); ans Chairman, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Mr. Olawale Oshin.
Present at the conference were Proprietor, Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof Jide Owoeye; a retired archbishop of Methodist Church Nigeria, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu; National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Democratic (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams; Chief Tokunbo Ajasin, the scion of former governor of Ondo State, the late Pa Adekunle Ajasin and Secretary General, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Otunba Kunle Olajide.
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