SW Asks FG To Open Boarders, Protect Region’s Assets, True Federalism |The Source

By Akinwale Kasali

The South-west zone of Nigeria has asked for true federalism in the country. It has also asked the Federal Government to open the borders which has for over one year, remained closed. The zone said their closure has affected the lives of its people, and brought untold hardships to the people of the zone.

The leaders, also, asked for the protection of the assets in the zone, and decried the monumental destruction of Lagos.

These requests were contained in a communique issued at end of a  meeting the region had with a Federal Government delegation, led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari. The delegation included the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and Ministers from the zone.

The delegation from the zone included Governors, Traditional Rulers, and other stakeholders.

The arson, killings and wanton destruction of lives and properties, especially in Lagos State during the #EndSARS protest, hijacked by hoodlums worried the leaders.

The dialogue  hosted by the Lagos State Government, was held at the Banquet Hall , State House, Alausa.

The session offered traditional rulers a no-holds-barred opportunity to bare their minds on the marginalisation of traditional institutions in the process of governance.

Chairman of the region’s Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, said the coordinated violence sparked by the #EndSARS protest shook the Southwest to its foundation, given the unrestrained manner with which public assets and infrastructure that had sustained the region’s economy were destroyed by hoodlums.

He said the style of the attacks, especially in Lagos, was worrisome, emphasising that the peace in the region remained fragile in the aftermath of the violence.

Akeredolu said there is need to fully restore peace in the Southwest and address the issues that made youths to be used by those who orchestrated the destruction.

His words: “Before our very eyes, what started as a peaceful demonstration turned to different thing that became a threat to all of us, who are regarded as elite. What we witnessed in the violence showed that something needs to be done to address the underlying issues and come out with solutions. We must be able to sustain the peace in our region at all cost.”

Prof. Gambari, said the vigorous manner of the #EndSARS protest indicated the frustration of the youth, who, he said, had been ignored for a long time in governance. He said the political class must go beyond the lip service and equip the young people with skills that would make them competitive in market.

The discussion went into an executive session during which all the Southwest Governors, traditional rulers and head of security agencies deliberated on the way forward.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, applauded the initiative, which he described as the “right step” but upbraided the political class for lack of consultation with traditional institutions in decision making.

Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, attacked the unitary system being practised, saying the arrangement had led to insecurity and restiveness.

Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, said security must be fortified in the region to protect the economy of the Southwest. He also called for the creation of Southwest Development Agenda to revamp and rebuild the destroyed assets.

Oba of Lagos fingered politicians as the cause of issues that led to the #EndSARS protest, saying unemployment contributed to the problem.

Following is the full text of the 13 point communique signed by the Ooni of Ife and the  Governor of Ondo State on behalf of the participants.

1. We express appreciation to Mr. President and his administration on the responsiveness to the initial demands of the ENDSARS demonstrators and for his firm handling of the aftermaths of the protest.
2. We endorse the call by traditional rulers for regular consultations with state governors and federal authorities on challenges facing the State, and for appropriate recognition of their role in the Constitution.
3. The security architecture of the country requires adjustment to adequately address the threats and realities of insecurity in the country. There should be more police presence in communities in the South west states.
4. While there are legitimate concerns contained in the initial ENDSARS movement, these have been hijacked by criminal and other elements with ulterior and negative forces and degenerated into anarchy.
5. There is need to undertake preventive actions aimed at prevention of repeat of what happened in the country following the ENDSARS demonstrators. Security needs to be strengthened in all states.
6. We wish to encourage the Nigeria Police by responding to their needs and appeal to them to do more to protect lives and properties and enhance security all over the country.
7. We call for specific measures and proposals to repair damage done to the physical infrastructure and economic assets of the South West.
8. Review of reports of constitutional conferences including 2014 National Conference and implement some of the recommendations especially with reference to security, economy, equal treatment for citizens all over the country.
9. We believe that the prolonged closure of the border has caused economic difficulties and should be re-examined to alleviate problems of the people in the border communities and prices of some essential commodities. There is need to review the closure and permit resumption of economic and trading activities.
10. A comprehensive programme that addresses youth employment and empowerment should be prioritized. Closer coordination and complementarity between the states and the Federal Government. In this regard, the curricular of tertiary institutions should be reviewed, with emphasis placed on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.
11. We recognize the damaging and negative impact of fake/false news and worry about its destructive and dangerous potency of fake news. We call on federal government to use the instrumentality of existing laws and those regulations bench-marked from other countries to provide safeguards against the spread of fake news. 2015 Cyber Act will also be fully used.
12. Federal Government should ensure that technology is used effectively for the advancement of the Nigerian Security and not its destruction by working with the technology cum social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. The regime of checks and gate keeping should be fully employed.
13. We urge that every effort should be made to resolve the impasse between ASUU and the federal government so that students can return to school in earnest.