Acting National leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to give Nigeria a federal constitution for Nigeria, saying that is the only way the country can record progress.
Adebanjo said this yesterday at Goke Omisore Annual Lecture (GOAL 2023), organized by Voice of Reason VOR while contributing to the topic of the lecture titled “Southwest Regional Integration: The DAWN Commission Approach” held in Lagos.
He said advancing the cause of regional integration among the South West states cannot bring the desired result unless the constitution of Nigeria is changed to a federal constitution where each state has its autonomy.
Adebanjo maintained that President Tinubu should live up to what he has been advocating for when he was in the trenches fighting for enthronement of democracy and federal constitution.
He also charged the South West states to be united in promoting the economy of their state, just as he maintained that all what those who advocate for regional integration in the South West have advanced were realisable but not possible under the kind of constitution Nigeria is operating now.
Adebanjo lamented that major advancement recorded in the South West economically was when Awolowo was premier of the region, adding that all the economic policies he postulated then are still relevant in moving the geo political zone forward.
Earlier in his speech, the keynote speaker, Mr Seye Oyeleye, said regional integration can lead to advancement of the South West zone ,economically, education wise and as well promote unity but frowned at the disintegration in the geo political zone.
Oyeleye said it is appalling that South West that was leading academically is now coming last in general examination he said the issue required urgent attention and solution
“The question I would like us to examine in our hearts is whether we, as a people, are not back to that state of disunity that Awolowo described in his book. It appears we are back to Hubert Ogunde’s metaphorical football field where we have made ourselves the football for others to kick around.
“Highly progressive. Badly disunited. Awolowo and his colleagues worked for the unity of Yoruba people and not only created the binding force of nationalism but also forged institutions that gave biting force to Yoruba nationalism.
