In a position paper presented by Amb. Prince Michael Ogungbemi, Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) Ekiti State Chapter, the organization has expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposed shift towards regional governance in Nigeria.
Prince Ogungbemi emphasized the historical successes of regional autonomy, pointing to the development and self-sufficiency achieved by regions in the 1950s.
He argued that a return to regional government could foster competition and regional development, as seen in the era of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Southwest Region.
Prince Ogungbemi highlighted the accomplishments of the DAWN Commission, established to promote economic and security cooperation among Southwest states, as an example of regional collaboration that has already shown positive results, such as the creation of the Amotekun security network.
He also called on Southwest governors and lawmakers to support legislative action in favor of regional governance, emphasizing the region’s historical preference for this system.
The paper concluded with a commendation for Tinubu’s vision, expressing hope for a regulated version of regional government that could enhance unity, peace, and equitable development across Nigeria.
Read the full position paper below:
POSITION PAPER PRESENTED BY THE PUBLICITY SECRETARY, AFENIFERE RENEWAL GROUP, EKITI STATE CHAPTER, AMB, PRINCE MICHAEL OGUNGBEMI ON THE PROPOSED RETURN TO REGIONAL GOVERNMENT BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU
INTRODUCTION:
Regional government is as old as the existence of Nigeria itself. In actual fact, it predates the advent of colonial rule in Nigeria when every zone has its own distinct political, cultural and social inclinations. However, the regional government becomes better coordinated and centrally managed under the colonial rule.
In Nigeria in particular, full -fledged and better organised regional government was witnessed between 1951 and 1966. Even when Military intervention aborted it, it still existed alongside before final termination by military Junta at the creation of States.
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT IN RETROSPECT
In actual fact, to chart a new course for the berthing of regional government in Nigeria, it is expedient to dissect the significance of regional government of the 50’s in terms of gains. During that time, Nigeria has the Northern Region, that is now balkanized into 19 states.
The Southwest Region covered places like Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun, part of Lagos, Edo, Delta, Oyo and Osun States. The Eastern Region covered the present Southeast and Southsouth region. Though, some part of Southwest and Southeast were later excised to create the Midwestern State that is now known as Edo and Delta States.
Most thrilling at that time was that, every region was given the leeway and unfettered latitude to expand and develop at its own rate. They were given the economic, political and social independence. They control their own resources and only give to the centre as contributions. There were fierce competitions for development. Every region was capitalizing on its area of comparative advantage to outwit and out -develop the others.
The Southwest Region under Chief Obafemi Awolowo was a microcosm of development. It depended mainly on proceeds from cocoa , Kolanut and other farm products for development.
GAINS AND PAINS OF REGIONALISM
From my own world view, the gains of this practice really outweighs the pains. It was under regional government that the Southwest has the first Television station in Africa, the first stadium in Africa, the first free universal basic education, many state owned companies, farm settlements, most organised civil service structure, the best university in Africa(University of Ife), and many others. The only pain was the political upheaval that ensued at the latter part of the practice that brought about social unrest in the Southwest. Despite that, the struggle for power didn’t cause any ethnic disunity and mistrust amongst us. The Yorubas still perceived themselves as one. The Oyos never perceived Ijebus as enemies, neither did Ekiti perceive the Ondos, the Ijebus, the Egbas as arch rivals. It is still not what we can’t control if given the opportunity of a return to that structure.
DAWN COMMISSION
The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria with the acronym DAWN Commission, an intellectual hub of the Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, Nigeria and an academic works of the Yoruba Academy which was established and in 2013, all the Southwest Governors were brought together to accept it as a way of consolidating development in the region through a unified economic blueprint that can be replicated in the region. This blueprint covered areas like : economy and security chiefly. The DAWN was geared towards making the southwest an enclave where people can live, work and invest.
Under economy, it was agreed that economic blueprint being implemented in the areas of governance, agriculture, youth development, job creation, tourism, human capital development and Social services are done in uniformity. The idea was to have regular peer review mechanism to show compliance. The Commission has brought some gains to the region. It was through DAWN commission that the Southwest Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun was formed on January 9, 2020 to ward off criminal herders and bandits who were gradually making the region a safe haven. The Social Security Scheme that was initiated for elderly citizens by the then Governor of Ekiti State and eventually Chairman, Nigeria Governors forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi was billed to be replicated in all the states of the region likewise the light rail project of Lagos State.
THE NEW ERA
The passage and signing into laws of the Southwest Development Commission among others and the creation of the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, were pointers to the fact that regions of Nigeria were about to be given loud voices in the scheme of things. Membership composition into this commission in the south western states should be drawn from the membership of the Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG from Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states respectively. Though, the cleavages created by states creation might make it herculean for uniform political decisions and control, but it will surely give a leeway for the region to develop at its own pace using the DAWN commission blueprint engineered and midwife by the instrumentality of the best brains from intellectuals at Afenifere Renewal Group through the Yoruba Academy think-tanks, which was not a product of political manipulations. As at the time the blueprint was made, Governor Olusegun Mimiko participated fully even as a member of Labour Party. I am also not worried in the sense that the Southwest Governors’ Forum now chaired by the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains one of the strongest regional bodies in the country, if not the strongest, so the application of the regional programme may not likely suffer any hitch or experience much teething problem in the southwest.
SCALING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY’S PASSAGE
The South-westerners have never hidden their preference for regional government, having savoured the gains in the past. Politics they say is a game of numbers. For the proposed bill to scale the crucible of National Assembly’s scrutiny, the Southwest Governors must ensure that their members, regardless of political differences give a block vote to ensure that the bill sails through. While not oblivious of the fact that these numbers might not be suffice to facilitate easy passage, the governors and the Federal Lawmakers should lobby their members from other zones and ensure that this highly beneficial proposal sees the light of the day.
CONCLUSION
Let me commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for having the gravitas and audacity to moot the idea of giving the regions strong voices in the running of the Nigerian nation. The unity and cohesion will be back to our body polity with this. I know that it might be difficult to have a full fledged regional government, but having a regulated one with existing states governed by different political parties will also bring a lot of developmental strides as the states will be compelled to act in unison in most cases that will engender unity, peace, equity and fairplay in the system.
Signed:
Amb, Prince Michael Ogungbemi
Publicity Secretary
Afenifere Renewal Group
Ekiti State Chapter.
0806-279-1730
&
Member, Media & Communication Committee, ARG, National.