June12: Yoruba Ko'Ya hosts former SW governors, military administrators, senators & Assembly speakers... Engaging brainstorming session for the progress of Southwest

The pan yorùbá, non-partisan socio-cultural group, Yorùbá Ko'Ya Leadership and Training Foundation (YKLTF), played host to former governors, military administrators, ex-senators and past speakers of house of assemblies in South West Nigeria, in an intellectually engaging 2-day retreat tagged 'Resetting Nigeria- Which Way?'

According to the Director of Media and Publicity of the foundation, Amb. Demola SANYAOLU, the event, sets a new tone for the Southwest in terms of reengineering the region for a more productive revamping.  

The communiqué issued at end of the 2-day Yoruba Ko'ya Leadership and Training Foundation (YKLTF) Retreat on Resetting Nigeria:

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The Yoruba Ko'ya Leadership and Training Foundation (YKLTF) initiated and hosted a Retreat on Resetting Nigeria on 11th and 12th June, 2021 for South West Former Governors/ Military Administrators, Past Senators and Fmr Speakers of State Houses of Assembly.

Main Speakers & Participants at the Retreat included:

1. Senator OlabiyiDurojaiye-Ogun East; 

2. Dr Olusegun Mimiko, former Governor of Ondo State; 

3. Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State; 

4. Commodore Kayode Olofinmoyin (rtd) former Milad Ogun State; 

5. Commodore Olabode George (rtd) former Milad Ondo.

6. Navy Captain Musbau Atanda Yusuf former MiladEkiti State; 

7. Sen Akin Odunsi-Ogun West, 

8. Rt Hon (Prof) Mojeed Alabi- Fmr Speaker Osun State; 

9. Rt Hon Rotimi Kuteyi - Fmr Speaker - ; 

10.Sen Iyabo Anisulowo Ogun West;

11.Sen Tokunbo Ogunbanjo Ogun East

12.Rt Hon Jumoke Akindele-Fmr Speaker Ondo State;

13.-Hon Titi Oseni-Gomez-Fmr Speaker Ogun State.

14.Mr Bimbo Ashiru- Seasoned Banker & two term Commissioner Ogun 

State;

15. Hon Adekunle Osibogun- CouncillorUk Parliament;

16.Otunba Deji Osibogun-President YKLTF.

17.Chief (mrs) Ronke Okusanya - YKLTF

18.Alh Lekan Ajia - YKLTF

19.Mr Olakunle Osuntokun-YKLTF

20.Chief (Mrs) Yemi Ogedegbe.

21. Amb. Demola Sanyaolu-YKLTF

22. Bashorun Kunle Ogunmola-YKLTF.

23. Mr Akin Akindele-YKLTF

24. Akogun Kola Onadipe - Sec Gen YKLTF.

At the end of the presentations and deliberations which were conducted  physically and virtually, all the participants agreed as follows:

(a) To continue intellectual engagements on the State of the Nation, within all Groups & Associations in Yorubaland, with Unity of Purpose-recommending that Jaw-Jaw is far better than War-War.

(b) Since agitation for Self Determination is not new in Yoruba land, it was recognized with demand for Honesty and Integrity in National Administration, 

Equity in dispensation of Justice & Governance. 

The Retreat also recognized that since Governance cannot be by discretion but by the Rule of Law, True Federalism with emphasis on return to Regional Governance is the most important indicator and the best solution to solving Nigeria’s current & future challenges, occasioned by a new Constitution akin to the 1963 Constitution. With this, all participants truly believe that Devolution of Power, Resource control with agreed tax remittances to the Federal Government, from the States or Region, will reset Nigeria on the path of genuine development and greatness.

(c) It was also resolved that Community Policing with appropriate statutory joint structures (State/Community complemented with appropriate line of jurisdiction as authority for each level) should be set up as fast track security, for effective practical responses within each LG Council area, where the people actually reside. 

Amotekun Security Network must be armed to the teeth to combat any incursion or terrorist attack, if need arise by the same weapons the criminal herders are using.

It is the State, LG and/or Community policing that each State Governor, Local Council and Community will control as Chief Security Officers respectively.

(d) All participants agreed that with regards to criminal conflicts such as the cases of kidnapping and banditry, the ongoing massacre of innocent residents and destruction of lives and property across Yoruba land, the hitherto “freedom of movement” of Cow herders, metamorphosing into trespass and other sundry criminal activities, must be curtailed. 

All participants therefore supported the permanent ban of Open Grazing of Cows in all the Southern States of Nigeria.

(e) Resetting Nigeria cannot be fully discussed without attempting to restore Yoruba lost family values and virtues. The woman has been a major component at the home complimenting the man and as such must be respected and recognized  at all levels.  Accordingly, women must inculcate on the younger generations of Nigeria good family values.

(f) Body of Past SW Governors, Military Administrators, and Past Senators & Fmr Speakers House of Assemblies should be constituted as major Advisory body like the House of Lords to the current or sitting Governors & Legislative in all SW States. Participant’s recommend Sept 23rd 2021 as the Yoruba Unit Day in recognition of the peace treaty signed after Kiriji War, with a unique inauguration of this body by collective action of State Govt in SW. And at the same time, urge for funding of all CDA's/Amotekun and other Associations in various communities in SW. 

(g) Participants considered and adopt as declaration on.."What to the Yoruba Man is June 12?”

The answer is that (Credit to Frederick Douglass and adapted for use by Senator Ogunbanjo) "it is a day that reveals to Yorubas, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he has had the misfortune to be dealt..(is the constant victim). To Yoruba, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty and celebration of democracy is an unholy license; your so called National greatness, your swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing and claims of accomplishments are empty and heartless; your denunciations of enemies of the State, your brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy — a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.”

“Where Justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”

Signed

Amb. Demola Sanyaolu

Director of Media & Publicity-YKLTF

June 12/2021.