Nigerians converge on Ibadan for Ajimobi’s 71st posthumous birthday
Nigerians across the country on Wednesday converged at the International Conference Centre University of Ibadan, Oyo State Capital to celebrate the 71st posthumous birthday, a programme organized by Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan.
Penpushing reports that the ceremony which was tagged ‘Senator Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable and 71st Posthumous birthday had in attendance dignitaries which include: Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Governor Dapo Abiodun, Governor Abdulahi Ganduje, Governor Kayode Fayemi, Governor Rotim Akeredolu, Chief Bisi Akande, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat,(Lagos State Deputy Governor) Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Dr. Onikepo Akande, and the acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Babatunde Ekanola(Acting Vice Chancellor University of Ibadan among others.
The Ogun State Governor at the event speaking on the topic “States and the Burden of National Development in Nigeria”, called for a collaboration between states in the country to deepen their ability to generate adequate revenue for socio-economic development.
Penpushing further reports that Abiodun noted that it was imperative for the state governors to devise ways of meeting the needs of their people, emphasizing need for Governors to look on how to collaborate each other.
“Let us begin to look at how we can collaborate with each other so that we can further deepen our ability to increase revenue. We need to strengthen our ties with the private sector as one of the steps towards survival”, he said.
The Governor pointed out that national development was a reflection of what obtained in the states, stating that it was time to decentralized ownership of infrastructure to enable states take active part, as infrastructure like road, was critical to development.
“It is time for us to begin to think of how to decentralize the ownership of infrastructure. Road infrastructure is extremely important to our people. People must be able to move goods from point A to point B with relative ease.
“Without adequate road infrastructure, there cannot be meaningful economic development and for this to happen, the Federal government has to decentralize their ownership of roads in the states”, Abiodun noted.
Penpushing also reports that, he decried the damage done to the environment in the states by mining activities which is under exclusive list, and frowned at the non- involvement of states in the issuing of license and the meagre stipend paid as derivation despite the fact that states bear the brunt of environmental impact.
The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said states are the main driver of the socio-economic development the country, as they exist to pursue a particular development agenda peculiar to the needs of the people.
Penpushing reports that, Fayemi, who is the Chairman Governors Forum, while tracing the history of state creation in Nigeria, noted that it was done to address the fears of the minorities and make governance grassroots oriented, adding that the states needed more money to meet their huge responsibilities.
The Kano State Governor. Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje, in his remarks pointed out the herdsmen/farmers clashes has increase the level of insecurity in the country, noting that population explosion and not paying attention to the education of the herdsmen, was creating security and other problems in the country.
Penpushing further reports that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, said that Nigeria needed a leader who was ready to make sacrifices like Nelson Mandela, who served a term and left indelible mark that put South Africa in sound footing.
The National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) Senator Bola Tinubu, represented by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Femi Hamzat, opined that there was a need to thinker with the revenue sharing formula in favour of the states, just as it was time for state police.
Penpushing also reports that, the former Lagos State Governor advocated for states to start collecting stamp duty and tourism tax, as well as be allowed to generate electricity to power their economic growth, saying this was in tandem with the believe of late Governor Ajimobi, who worked passionately to change and modernize Oyo State.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, stressed the need to address insecurity in the nation by taking prompt and adequate action, maintaining that the nation was running out of time if urgent steps are not taken.
Penpushing reports that, President of the Abiola Ajimobi Foundation and wife of the deceased, Chief (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi, observed that despite numerous amendments in the laws of Nigeria, there was still complaints about inadequacies all over the geographical zones of the nation, saying that the event was to provide a platform to discuss critical roles states play in facilitating development.
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