Speakers at the first biennial Dipo Famakinwa Colloquium all spoke in support of restructuring which late Famakinwa championed while alive.
The first biennial Dipo Famakinwa Colloquium program which was organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission, the Yoruba Academy and the Afenifere Renewal Group had in attendance notable speakers which include Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, Mrs Yemi Alabi, Mrs. Adeyinka Bello, Festus Ogun, Rilwan Balogun, Barrister Dotun Hassan, President Yoruba Council of Youth and Baale of Makoko, Barr. Adekunle Olaiya all spoke about the need to restructure Nigeria before things deteriorates further.
While speaking on the issue of restructuring, the Governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi who was represented by the State Commissioner for Education, Professor Niyi Olowofela Ajimobi commended the late Famakinwa for his contribution to the South-West, calling for his vision to be sustained.
He said, “Democratic processes should be built around such fundamental values as the sovereignty of the people; respect for human rights; equal political, social and economic opportunities for all citizens; equity, justice and fair play; ethical values of politics and national unity; as well as transparency and accountability.
According to him, “These values are non-negotiable and form the bedrock of nation-building. For these values to be given expression in the Nigerian nation, the structural defects and deficiencies of the construct of the nation must be addressed as expressed by popular consensus of the people.”
Also speaking, Chief Niyi Akintola SAN said: “The Nigerian governance structure is oppressive. The only language understood by the oppressor is confrontation. Therefore, to achieve restructuring, we must be ready for appropriate confrontation. A structured way to achieve restructuring agenda is by strengthening regional integration. Southwest state governors should give greater support to DAWN Commission.”
Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju one of the speakers said that “Any country like Nigeria that depends largely on natural resources will always be politically unstable. The restructuring of Nigeria will allow for a level of resource control. Restructuring will correct the hierarchical control nature of the federal over the state governments, which is not supposed to be in a federation.”
Also speaking, Fagbenro stated that Nigeria is nursing epidemic poverty because government is structured to meet the needs of the elites at the expense of the poor.
“This governance structure is what must change. The only condition that gave birth to Nigeria as an independent country was as a federation. Once that federalism principle was breached by the military coup, Nigeria ceased to exist.”
Speaking further on restructuring, Yemi Alabi said that government controls our lives from birth to death. How then can we leave such important organ in the hands of those who do not share our ideals?
“Let us push forward our best restructuring agents into elective positions. That is when we can be walking our talk.”
In the word of Rilwan Balogun, he said: “Restructuring is not secession. It is about going back to what used to work for us as a country, which is True Federalism. The legacy our founding fathers left for us is education. We need Southwest states to make education the pivot of development and restructuring will be easier to achieve.”
Baálé Adekunle Olaiya said: ” We have been demeaned as a people and our culture bastardised. Restructuring will help us to be in control our affairs as a people. ”
Habeeb Hammed speaking said: “To achieve restructuring, let us start with grassroots sensitisation. We can talk about disrupting or boycotting election but that is not in Yoruba character. Let us first increase the awareness campaign the leaders will have no choice but to heed the people’s call.”
While speaking on the topic, Festus Ogun said: “Nigeria is a federation without federalism because exclusive power is concentrated in the federal government. This structure is prone to abuse and cannot engender development. Nigeria is a risk unless it finds the courage to restructure. When Nigeria is restructured, the issue of marginalisation will be a thing of the past. There will be social justice and egalitarianism. Restructuring will best be achieved through the instrumentality of law. Therefore, we must ensure that only men of goodwill represent us in the National Assembly.”
The event had in attendance members of the OPC New Era, OPC Faseun, OPC Reform, Agbekoya and other Yoruba groups.
Dignitaries at the event include Ayo Afolabi, Gen. Sec. Afenifere Renewal Group, Dr. Bolaji Ogunseye, Rtd Major Gen Sam Odunsi, Mrs. Ibironke Famakinwa, Dr. Charles Akindiji Akinola, Alh. Lai Oyeduntan, Mr Tokunbo Ajasin and Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo.