The Ondo
State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, and other leaders of the Afenifere,
have once again called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently
implement the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference.
Mimiko
also called for the unity of the Yoruba leaders in the South-West
irrespective of their political or religious affiliations.
The
governor said this on Tuesday during a Yoruba summit which has as its
theme, “Economic Downturn and Employment in Yorubaland,” held at the
International Event Centre, Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Mimiko
said, “The overreaching recommendation of the confab was the need for
political restructuring. This is to retain a federal system of
government with states as the federating units, with all the powers and
resources thereto.
“It would
allow states that wish to merge to do so in accordance with the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), a
possibility that is no longer too far-fetched given the financial crises
in which most states of the federation have now found themselves.
“The
restructuring would also accommodate the establishment of state police
to enhance national security. In the economic domain, exploitation of
solid minerals would be taken from the Exclusive Legislative list, such
that states would be able to harness the solid minerals in their
jurisdictions, thus creating employment, generating more revenue and
developing at their own pace.
Some of
the Yoruba leaders who attended the summit include Pa Rueben Fasonrati,
Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olanihun Ajayi, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Chief Olu
Falae, Brig. Gen. Raji Rasaki (retd.), Dr. Kunle Olajide and Chief
Sehinde Arogbofa.
All the
Yoruba leaders who spoke at the summit insisted that the President must
implement the recommendation of the 2014 national confab’s
recommendation.
They said failure to do this would make the country to continue in stagnation.
The guest
speaker, Dr. Yemi Farounmbi, asked the South-West governors to solve the
unemployment problem confronting the youths in Yorubaland through the
creation of small and medium scale enterprises at the local government
level.
Adebanjo, in his remarks, said anyone who loved the unity of the country should not oppose the confab report.
The
Afenifere chieftain said, “If President Muhammadu Buhari is sincere
about the peace and unity of this country he should implement the
recommendation of the confab report. “
Also, the
Leader of the Odua Peoples Congress, Mr. Gani Adams, accused President
Buhari of insensitivity over the restructuring of the country.
He stressed that the only way for the country to progress was for it to undergo restructuring.
“President
Buhari does not believe in restructuring of this country, and without
the restructuring, there is no way out for the country to move forward,”
he said.
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