Thousands of Yoruba people in the south western part of Nigeria,Kwara and Kogi state yesterday gathered in Ibadan to deliberate and adopt a motion and agenda on restructuring of Nigeria.
Leaders of various Yoruba socio-cultural groups, traditional rulers governors and representatives of the south south and Niger Delta and Ohaneze indigbo were present at the event which was held at Adamasingba stadium in Ibadan.
In A communiqué issue at the end of the summit, the congregation said “Yoruba insists that Nigeria must return to a proper federation as obtained in the 1960 and 1963 constitutions. This has been our position since 1950 Ibadan conference and developments in Nigeria over the last fifty years reinforce our conviction”
“The Federal Government shall make laws and only have powers in relation to items specified on the legislative list contained in the constitution of the Federation”.
“The Regions shall in turn be composed as states.. Each Regions shall have its own constitution containing enumerated exclusive and concurrent legislative lists regarding matters upon which the regions and the states may act or legislate”
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“ Contiguous territories, ethnic nationalities or settlement shall be at liberty through a plebiscite, to elect to be part of any contiguous region other than the region in which the current geo-political zone or state boundaries places them”
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They also agreed that “The States with a region shall determine the items on the legislative lists in the Regional constitution for the purpose of good government and the administration and provision of common inter-state social, economic and infrastructural requirements. Residual powers shall be vested in the states”
“ The power to create states shall be within the exclusive powers of the region which shall be obliged to create a state provided a plebiscite is conducted, following a request by an agreed percentage of the residents of the ethnic nationality within a state. The procedure for conducting a plebiscite and the percentage of any ethnic nationality shall be out in the regional constitution”.
“The power to create local governments and assign functions to them shall be vested in the states”.
“ States shall be entitled to manage all resources found within their boundaries and the revenue accuring therefrom. The issue of the entitlement of littoral states to offshore resources and the extension of such rights from the continental shelf and rights accuring to the federal government shall be determined by the national assembly.”
“The sharing ration of all revenues raised by means of taxation shall be 50% to the states, 35% to the regional government and 15% to the government of the federation.
16. For a period of 10years from the commencement of the operation of the new constitution (or such other agreed period to be enshrined in the federal constitution) there shall be a special fund for the development of all minerals in the country. The Government of the federation shall raise this sum by way of additional taxation on resources at a rate to be agreed by the National Assembly”
In his speech, the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11 commended the organizers of the summit and caution against politicizing the issue, The monarch maintained that Yoruba nation should be far better than where it is now base on the foundation and past deeds of the hero
.He however express optimism that the genuine intention of the organizers for Yoruba race will further boost the credibility of the region, development of the nation and peaceful coexistence of all the tribes.
Also governor Ayodede Fayose of Ekiti state while addressing the gathering said the hypocrisy of some Yoruba elders push the region to where it is now , “ Some of them appreciate the value of what we are doing today but deep down them we don’t need it and they will never support this lofty and genuine idea that will bring progress and development”
The governor who expresses his unflinching support for the agenda and motion on restructuring however expresses fear in the ability of some of the elders who have the power and ability to make things happens to support the agenda.
Other speakers including, Otunba Gani Adams, Chief Afe Babalola SAN, Femi Fani Kayode and many others spoke extensively on the needs for Yoruba race to be conscious of the need to speak with one voice on the matter.
President general of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Jim Nwodo and South South and Niger Delta in their separate remark emphasizes on the need for restructuring and promised that they are on the same page with the on the restructuring.
