SINA FADARE

The Pan Yoruba Conference which was attended by the immediate past governors of Ekiti, Osun, Ondo and Ogun States and other notable Yoruba leaders insisted that a true federation remains a penacea to the nation’s socio-political problems.

The conference which attracted many stakeholders in the zone maintained that if there is true federalism, the regions would enjoy high degree of autonomy needed for sustainable development of their areas.

Speaking at the occasion which was attended by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi and human rights activist, Chief Olu Omojola stressed that the Yoruba agenda is a bond on all its delegates at the ongoing national political reform conferernce, no matter who nominated them.

According to the two Yoruba leaders after a wide consultations with notable stakeholders in the region, with a report of about 60 Ad-hoc Planning Committee members, the agenda was finally approved with an 18-member technical committee producing the final document.

Professor Akinyemi said that among the issues germane to the agenda, is the return to the independent formula of revenue derivation with each region controlling revenue accuring from activities within the region.

The Professor of Foreign Policy explained that absolute autonomy is necesary at a time like this in the country in order to sustain the on-going democratic experiment.

"If there is autonomy of the regions, the federal government of PDP will not have the gut to go to Anambra State and humilate Governor Ngige, or will they have the audacity of witholding the allocation of Lagos State government, despite Supreme Court order that the money should be released."

The forum equally canvassed a regional police system in order to checkmate the rising wave of criminal tendencies in the society.

"Each zone shall have its police force. The centre shall have an investigative and arresting body with national jurisdiction. Police force shall be by a police council of which the Head of Government his deputy, and the zonal chief executives shall be members."

Earlier in his welcome address, the Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was represetned by the Commissioner for Establishment,Mr.Ebenezer Akinbolade, charged all the Yoruba leaders to remain focused and diggedly fight all forms of oppression and intimidation.

Governor Tinubu expressed support for the Yoruba agenda and promised to be a vanguard for its operation.

While moving the motion for the adoption of the agenda, a former presidential aspirant, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite said that the document is bonding on all the delegates representing Yoruba at the national confab.

He warned that if the delegates did not follow the agenda to the letter, they risk the wrath of millions of the who had been agitating for a common front in the on-going national conference.

The 80-pasge document was unanimously adopted by the delegates who thronged the venue of the meeting.

Some of the stakeholders who attended the occasion included former Alliance for Democracy (AD) governors Chief Bisi Akande (Osun), Chief Segun Osoba (Ogun), Otunba Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti) and Chief Adebayo Adefarati (Ondo State).

Notable Afenifere leaders who equally graced the occasion include Senator Mojisola Akinfenwa, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Gbenga Kaka, Chief Tokunbo Ajasin, Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Alh. Ganiyu Dawodu, Sen. Salawu Suleman, Jimi Agbaje and Dr. Atuba.

Others are national president of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Smart Adeyemi, founder of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Fasheun and the national coordinator, OPC Chief Gani Adams, Professor Bab Fafunwa, Mrs. Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo, and Jumoke Anifowose.

However, the conference was boycotted by the five PDP governors and other party chieftains in the South-West.