…Ojudu, Oni, Fayemi, Aregbesola, Ajimobi, Modupe Adelabu, Akinyelure In Attendance
The Southwest leadership of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC have called for true and genuine federalism in Nigeria.
The leaders of the party who converged in Ibadan, however agreed on immediate restructuring of the political system in the country.
The Southwest APC leadership made the call while reading a communique issued after the party Southwest Zonal Conference held in Ibadan, Oyo state.
The APC Southwest leaders also agreed on free provision of basic education in all the six states made up the region.
The conference which had in attendance, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo represented by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, APC National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Chief Pius Oluwole Akinyelure, APC National Deputy Chairman (South), Engineer Segun Oni, Minister of Mineral Resources, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimoobi, Ogun state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, former governor of Oyo state, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, former deputy governor of Ekiti State, Professor Modupe Adelabu, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Members Federal House Representatives, Members State House of Assembly, APC chieftains, APC youth leaders, APC women leaders, among others.
The communique reads in part: “The leadership of the APC in the southwest zone led by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the APC National Deputy Chairman (South), Engr. Segun Oni, APC National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Chief Pius Oluwole Akinyelure, Senator Ayo Fasanmi and Prince Tajudeen Olusi,
“Also in attendance are the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimoobi, representative of Ogun state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
“While members of the part from the Southwest zone in the Federal Executive Council were represented by the Minister for Solid Mineral Resources, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Minister of Communication, Barrister Adebayo Shittu.
“The conference was graced by the elder statesmen Dr. Omololu Olunloyo and chief Bamidele Olumilua respectively former governors of Oyo and Ekiti states.
“After comprehensive and extensive discussions and deliberations on the theme of the conference and lecture titled “The Southwest and the Challenges of Change in Nigeria which was lectured by the erudite scholar, Professor Ropo Sekoni, the following were adopted as resolutions:
“Firstly, the President Buhari’s administration is to be congratulated in its determination and largely successful effort to steady the ship of Nigerian states that was lifted ahead of political wreck of sixteen years of unsuccessful PDP’s administration.
“Secondly, the conference also congratulated the APC governors in the southwest for their political dexterity and ability towards effective management the affairs of their respective states in the face of severe economic downturn. It is to be noted that it is on the account of the admirable performances that the southwest remains among the most economically viable and investment friendly geopolitical zone in Nigeria.
“Considering totality of circumstances, meaningful progress and socioeconomic development of the Nigerian nation’ states is unattainable without restructuring the exact largely unitarian geopolitical rearrangement. It by such rearrangement, leading to genuine and true political and physical federalism that the challenges facing Nigerians can be relieved and new fiestal of human development can open up”.
Speaking one after the other, the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbayo who said the party was determined to turn things around, also assured Nigerians of great impact in earnest.
Osinbajo who was represented by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, expressed pains over the challenges facing the country, said the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari has since been working extremely hard to remedy the rot and malaise that pervaded all aspects of the economy in the country.
The Vice President who attributed the current economic woes to palpable mismanagement characterized with the immediate past administration, however assured Nigerians of total succour as the current government is working round the clock to reposition the nation.
According to him, “Nigerians who desired the need change that we promised voted for our great party in their millions. This confidence reposed in us by millions of Nigerians is what we have come to renew today.
“The current pains and sufferings that our people are feeling today are the results of yesterday’s mismanagement of the commonwealth of our great country.
“Since we have savored the sweetness of that electoral victory, we cannot afford to betray the trust that paved the way to usher in change from the ineptness of the past.
Professor Osinbajo said when the APC took over the reins of governance, it was understood to it that things were bad, saying “Everyday, as I travel round the country to meet our people, I see on their faces evidence of the pains and trauma they are going through. I have heard the anguish and cries of our people in various town meetings that I have addressed.
He added President Muhammadu Buhari was also aware of the economic hardship that the people are facing, stressing that “He (President Buhari) feels the pains that you feel, and he has asked me to reassure you that a glorious dawn awaits.
As you all may well know, the darkness part of the night is the period before dawn. Nigeria’s dawn is about to break!
He emphasized that the current government was determined to turn things around, so that, once more, Nigerians will begin to feel the real impact of government in their lives.
Professor Osinbajo said though things may appear difficult at the moment, but will not be long before Nigerians start deriving the full benefits of the current policies of government which are designed to reposition the country and improve on the prevailing economic situation.
He appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the present government, saying, “change is not easy, but we are not relenting until we achieve a better life for all Nigerians. The change that we advocate will be irrevocable when we are finally done.
“Our plea to our people is for greater understanding and patience even as we forge ahead to continue the work of making the lives of all Nigerians better again. We seek your continued trust and ask you all to join hands with government as we tackle and surmount the challenges ahead. We just have to change from our old ways of doing things because things cannot be allowed to continue the way they were.
In his remarks, the governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, charged the Southwest leadership of the All Progressives Congress on the need to champion the course for total restructuring of Nigeria.
He said the struggle for true, genuine and fundamental federalism must be seriously agitated for by the APC Southwest zonal leadership, saying this clarion call must be frontally reached out to the federal government in order to ascertain better restructuring of the country.
Governor Aregbesola who lampooned the past administrations for bastardizing the nation’s resources, said Nigeria has gotten to a stage where restructuring of the Nigeria as country must not be ignored.
Aregbesola said if the nation had been restructured in the past, the country might not be plunged into economic quagmire.
Governor Aregbesola who condemned Presidential system of government, said Nigeria has gotten to a stage where presidential system of government needs to be jettisoned as the its structure tends to promote corruption, nepotism and wastage.
“I am very happy to be in this gathering as this conference marks the first since our party took over the leadership of the government at the centre with the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“But it is quite unfortunate that we have not yet to get things right in respect to the system of government that suit us as a country.
“It is unequivocal that our country needs to be urgently restructured as our leaders need to deploy the existing political will and resources to champion true, genuine and fundamental federalism.
“It is clear to us now in Nigeria that our present political system is faulty that is why we are facing several challenges in all sectors of the economy.
“To appreciate this, we have all seen that presently over 30 states out of the 36 states in Nigeria have found it impossible to meet up with their constitutional responsibilities, as a result of this, there is a need for us to go back to the drawing board and map out strategies that would support our collective aspirations through the enthronement and entrenchment of genuine federalism.
“I am charging our leaders in the Southwest to make a strong move on this because our region used to be a good governance prototype and as such, we must not relent to ensure proper restructuring of our country.
“Our leaders must lead the call for the restructuring of Nigeria because without this, we are going nowhere so as for our wealth as a nation to grow astronomically as aspired by the teeming Nigerians, we must all struggle for this.
Governor Aregbesola also called for the need to be more productive as a nation, saying the country should stop being a parasite to her counterparts.
On the call for diversification, Governor Aregbesola said what the nations needs is beyond diversification of her resources, stressing that all hands must be on deck to actualize fundamental federalism and corporate existence of Nigeria as this will give each of the regional zones the constitutional right to manage and maximize its resources for greater development.
On his part, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, called on the southwest leadership to strengthen the unity, peace and progress among the yoruba people.
Governor Ajimobi also called on the southwest regional leader to formulate policies and make a position on economic paper that would move the country forward.
He said while the nation is going though the economic hardship, there is a need for the region to reunite so as to move forward.
Senator Ajimobi said the leadership of the party needs to always prioritize the welfare of Yoruba people whenever they meet with the president.
He said, “we need to always articulate our challenges before Mr. President each time we are privy to see him.
“Our President being a patriotic, committed and corruption free man would definitely listen to us as a group from this region whenever we feel to meet him.
He therefore solicited support and cooperation for the present government as it moves to reposition the country.
In his goodwill message, the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, who lauded the efforts of the present government said, since the inception of the APC administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, it is clear that it is no longer business as usual in Nigeria.
Chief Oyegun who was represented by APC National Deputy Chairman (South), Engineer Segun Oni, said the President’s widely lauded war on corruption has started to yield fruit, just as astronomical sums of money have and continue to be recovered from corrupt public officials with several prosecutions carried out by a newly re-energized EFCC.
In the area of security, the APC National Chairman said the current government has recorded giant strides in the North-east, as the dreaded Boko Haram have been decimated with lost territories recovered by the gallant officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces under an able Commander-in-Chief.
He added, “The administration of President Buhari has however set in motion an enabling environment to diversify of our economy.
“Commercial flights have resumed to the North-East, schools and universities have reopened, and displaced residents are gradually returning to their homes and businesses.
“It will be wrong to give the impression that it has all been plain sailing. We all know that the economy is in bad shape due to years of dependence on oil as the mainstay of our economy.
“Policies are being put in place to promote agriculture, solid minerals and manufacturing sectors as alternative means to generate foreign exchange for our country.