… extols Akeredolu’s virtues as leader at book launch
Oyebanji
The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji has listed ways the nation can be properly restructured in a way the yearnings of the citizens would be properly met. He also poured encomiums on his Ondo State counterpart, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu describing him as a courageous Governor who has achieved milestones during his tenure.
Governor Oyebanji applauded Arakunrin Akeredolu at the book launch organized in his honor by Ebenezer Adeniyan, the author. The book is titled, “Aketi:The courage to Lead in Trying times”.
Using several appellations to describe the Ondo State governor, Oyebanji who was represented by the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Dr. Mrs. Habibat Adubiaro, said: “Arakunrin Akeredolu as a quintessential gentleman,the archetype of courage and fiery ebora that professes in the market square,Aketi is everything an omoluabi should be. He is the epitome of courage, composure and candour that is associated with the pantheon gods of the Yoruba spiritual Cosmo.
Speaking further, he said: ” Aketi as the Caterpillar that brings to submission the arrogance of the bullies no matter who they are. He does not falter nor shrink before them.
Oyebanji said the title of the biograghy written to honour Akeredolu, is very appropriate given the Governor’s uncommon courage and feats in Ondo, adding that: “the title of the book is very apt, fitting and topical to his trajectory. It summarises the totality of the Aketi phenomenon as a student activist, public -spirited lawyer,NBA President and consummate politician and governor.”
The Ekiti State Governor also put in proper perspectives the national call for restructuring in his lecture titled: ” Re-awakening the Restructuring Debate: Setting a national Rebirth Agenda.”
He said: “The Restructuring does not have to be a return to regional structure or merging of States, rather it should mean the renegotiation of political and socioeconomic responsibilities and access to opportunities by the different layers of government. It should also mean a more equitable power relations between the sub-nationals and the federal government
Oyebanji urged all stakeholders in the Nigerian project to consider what the original architects of the nation imagined the security structure, transport system, road infrastructure, natural resources, tiers of government,water resources, agriculture,power relations and environment among others should look alike in understanding restructuring. He added that : “…whereas we cannot return wholesale to the past, we can definitely take some useful lessons from the past to birth a more perfect union
In terms of security structure,a lot has been said about the challenge of insecurity in our country,some of the factors that are responsible for this include, inadequacy in personnel, poor condition of service, inadequate resources to work with, corruption,lack of local intelligence,lack of Passion and commitment on the part of most security personnel because of disconnect with the locality in which they serve.
“Many large expanse of ungoverned spaces which insurgents and bandits of all kinds occupy today are as a result of absence of security personnel”.
Speaking further, he said we have often called for devolution of power without emphasizing devolution of resources as more responsibilities, which should ordinarily belong to the states and local government returned to them, the necessary financial resources to meet them should be effected through a just and fair revenue allocation formula
” If our federalism must address the issue of imbalance and Inequity in economic opportunities, there is need for a new national Industrial master plan for the country beyond the economic free trade zone system that we presently have in place.
More of the reasons we have uneven distribution of wealth in Nigeria is because of unfair localization of industries by the federal government for political reasons
Matters of the environment are issues that concern physical geography of the federating units, curiously regulation about the environment is in the hands of the federal government agency.For example,why should one need to obtain environmental impact assessment (EIA certification) from Abuja before we can undergo construction or build bridges in Ondo State?
Among the dignitaries present at the event was Ondo State deputy governor, Mr. Lucky Ayedatiwa, minister of State for transportation,Prince Ademola Adegoroye, Senator Elect, Jimoh Ibrahim and host of others.