By Ayo Ladigbolu
I express sincere appreciation to the organisers for giving me the honour and privilege of presenting the SPECIAL ADDRESS at this significant Southwest Stakeholders Summit.
I congratulate the Convener and Father Superior of AFENIFERE, Pa Reuben Fasoranti (CFR). Papa is not only my Leader, he is also my Teacher. He was principal of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo from 1973–1975. I happen to be one of the very few Honorary Members of the Olivet Baptist High School Alumni Association.
Our memory bank is full of recollections of various Yoruba/Southwest summits, particularly those at which milestone Resolutions were made:
● The Yoruba Agenda Summit 2005
● The Cowherders Invasion Summit in Ibadan 2015 (Yoruba Koya and Sunday Ighoho phenomenon)
● The State of the Nation Summit at Ikenne 2018 ( Impactful protests against Marginalisation )
● The Nigeria In Search of a Nation Summit at Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan 2017 ( Restructuring )
● The Interactive Summit of Yoruba and Southwest Leaders of Thought at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, 2023.
You will recall that it was at that Summit we sang the TIWA NTIWA song to the high heavens:
Yoruba ko so pe k’onisu ma je’yan, Tiwa n ti wa
Omo Alade ko so pe k’elepo ma se’be o, Tiwa nTiwa
IRE to wo’le to wa, Awa o si rire gba. Tiwa ntiwa,
Tinubu l’awa teleo, Yoo si RIRE gba. Tiwa ntiwa.
In addition to the important document titled THE YORUBA AGENDA, all the Summits produced various kinds of beneficial results for our Region and the Nation at large.
Only the 2014 National Summit (which was expected to end the PLAGUE of the 1914 Amalgamation) failed to deliver on our expectations. No wonder we are still amending the Military Constitution in 2025.
I thank our Governors for their steadfastness, encouragement and support for DAWN Commission, whose mandate is our regional integrated development. The Commission has gone a long way in its 12 years of existence to transform our Region and to dream big for our holistic growth and comprehensive development. Tetepopo ti l’omi nikun k’ojo o too de.
I salute our Governors for their progressive and cooperative endorsement of this Dialogue as a welcome opportunity for our People to exercise their rights and responsibilities in this engagement. This is a veritable means of re-energising our Region. No doubt, this Dialogue will enable our citizens to participate constructively in governance. They will be able to utilize their OLAJU (sophistication) in pursuit of national growth and development.
Yoruba The Giant
Yoruba are much talked and written about. Truly, poems have been composed to extol our virtues, and anthems adopted which challenge our patriotism and resilience.
Yoruba rororo bi Ina ale
Yoruba rerere bi Omi Okun
Yoruba Baba ni aba se
We are the trailblazers, pacesetters and pathfinders.
Ajanaku tii mi igbo kijikiji.
Yoruba are long distance runners.
A Yoruba man is said to build a car with no reverse gear and no side mirror because his motto is: Forward ever. Backward never.
Yoruba has given a lot to the world. Our hands have been on top for a long time, even here in Nigeria. We are found everywhere in the world and we impact positively on every aspect of the lives of our host communities.
Yoruba studies have acquired legitimacy around the world, making Yoruba one of the best-studied groups in Africa (Falola, p. 7). Yoruba studies is not an appendage to African Studies but a critical component of its centre.
Yoruba healing systems have been expanded as part of alternative medicine that complements orthodox medicine. The preservation of our stories and memories has been used to empower identities and to question the narratives and ideologies of those who conquered and exploited us. (Kiriji War and Ogun Pepe, which is The Bombardment of Oyo by Captain Bower on Nov. 12, 1895).
Prof. Ropo Sekoni’s book “Federalism and the Yoruba Character” includes a chapter titled “What Do the Yoruba Want?” (pp. 71–83). He highlighted a few grand delusions worth mentioning:
1. That Restoration of true Federalism is a Mirage.
2. That It is only God who can change Nigeria because He created it.
3. That only violence can lead to ethnic liberation.
4. Can a brave President bring about true Federalism unilaterally?
He pessimistically concluded that “the future of the Yoruba in a Nigeria that is largely unitary is not a promising one.” He therefore urged all pro-democracy groups, Diaspora bodies, and all lovers of Nigeria not to give up, but to utilize all available means to SPEAK UP and CRY ALOUD as we intend to do at this Dialogue.
The Oyo State Anthem succinctly captures the eminent position of the Southwest. Permit me to adapt it to make my point.
Asiwaju ni wa, Asiwaju ni wa
Ipo Asiwaju lOlodumare fun wa Ni’le Yoruba.
Omo Yoruba E je ka se giri, Omo Yoruba ka tepa wa mo’se:
Ka ba ‘ra wa soro, Ka s’ododo
Ka se un to to to dara nigba gbogbo, nibi gbogbo fun’le Yoruba
Ko ni rehin o, l’oju mi ko ni rehin o
KO NI REHIN O, NIPA T’EMI, KO NI REHIN O
Emi a se un to to to dara nigba gbogbo, ni bi gbogbo fun le Yoruba
ASIWAJU NI WA, ASIWAJU NI WA, ASIWAJU NI WA! ASIWAJU……NI WA!
That is what DAWN COMMISSION has been all about. That is what we expect this Dialogue to emphasize and promote; the sum total of which is HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING AND IMPROVED WELLBEING FOR OUR PEOPLE.
This Dialogue therefore is a moral exercise in democratic participation that can greatly help in boosting Southwest development. It affords us the unique opportunity to engage directly with the Federal Government rather than listen to hearsay, hate speeches, rumours or fake news.
Yoruba are good individually and can be better if we work together. Instead of agonizing over our present conditions, we must organize to change them for the better.
It has been said that in the Southwest, many groups who claim to be speaking for the People are NOT TALKING TO EACH OTHER. I am sure this Dialogue will solve part of that problem by enabling us to harmonize our positions and present united Resolutions and Recommendations.
I remember today Late Dr. Tunji Otegbeye while addressing a group of Yoruba leaders at the Institute of Church and Society, Samonda Ibadan on July 6, 2007, who said:
“I have ceased to deify man since I was disappointed by Zik. But same is not true of Awo, who lived and died for Yoruba unity and one Nigeria. He lived and led by example.”
We all know we cannot re-create Obafemi Awolowo or Adekunle Ajasin, but we can use the auspices of the Fasorantis, Falaes and Akandes to create a collective leadership which is credible and able to enunciate the Yoruba Priorities, which to me are:
● The Principles of Omoluabi and Olaju which present the Southwest as a People concerned not only about today but also about the future.
● We are citizens proud of what we earn from our labours rather than what can be stolen from public funds.
● We are committed to enabling our component parts develop their resources, eradicating poverty, and making our populations proud to be Yoruba-Nigerians.
THE TRANSITION FROM ADVERSITY TO PROSPERITY
Late Hubert Ogunde sang “Lehin okunkun biribiri Imole a tan.” After the famine comes a bountiful harvest. Nigeria and the Southwest can transit from adversity to prosperity if we pay attention to certain salient issues at this Dialogue. The first is that we cannot eat our cake and still have it.
Almost all areas of our lives in recent past have been subsidized, with Government spending trillions of Naira on petrol, electricity, education, transport and all. And we the People expect the same Government to provide good roads (the Petrol Tanker accident in Niger State on October 22 was attributed to the bad condition of the road. More than 40 lives were lost in the accident). We expect potable water, good jobs, stable electricity, top-notch security and other dividends of democracy.
We were living witnesses to the strong protests of 2012 and our resistance to the economic reforms proposed at that time. We cried and shouted to the rooftops. Today, we are face to face with the ENDURANCE we refused to undergo. Delay, for us, has become dangerous. The reality is that unless we squarely face the current tough times, there may be no future for us and our children.
This Dialogue has provided the opportunity for us in the Southwest to ask all relevant questions and obtain all the necessary answers. We must obtain all the available data:
● How much is being earned?
● How much is being saved?
● What are the infrastructure plans on ground?
● What effects will they have on the People?
● Is Nigeria rich or poor?
● Should we continue to consume what we do not produce?
● How do the global wars impact our economy? (Ukraine, Israel, etc.)
● How much of our needs can we produce locally?
● Can we go back to the 1960s when we produced our food, cloth and vehicles, and exported cocoa, cotton, palm oil and groundnuts? The good old days when Awo established the first TV Station in Africa and built the Cocoa House?
How is Asiwajunomics Going to Turn Adversity to Prosperity?
I am strongly convinced that if we do not repeat the experiences of 2012 wherein we resisted the full and complete implementation of the current economic policies of the Federal Government, our endurance and patience this time around can yield among others, the following dividends:
(1) It will make more money available to the Government for infrastructure development and eventually reduce expenses.
(2) Electricity generation (for example) will improve, and we will need less Petrol and Diesel for powering our generators. More vehicles will also be powered by gas, thus reducing our reliance on PMS. The availability of cooking gas will reduce dependence on firewood and charcoal thereby protecting our environment from degradation.
(3) Massive transportation facilities will be available like trains and buses thereby reducing the number of Heavy-duty trucks and tankers on our roads. This in turn will reduce our expenses on road repairs and maintenance nationwide.
(4) Affordable healthcare services will be at our beck and call, while global standard education will also thrive.
(5) The policies will drive massive local manufacturing and production (like we once had at Lafia Canning Industry, Apata, Ibadan).
(6) We shall return to agricultural investments and the use of local products. Our Engineers and Technologists will embrace innovation and creativity, producing appropriate tools and machines for our small, medium and large-scale industries without needing to use the Dollar to import them from America or China or Korea.
(7) Our flashy, showoffish, and extravagant lifestyles will be curtailed, and more and more will live within their means. Wasteful, careless spending will be under control. Our number of personal vehicles and luxury automobiles will be curtailed and unnecessary travels avoided.
(8) As we grow wiser (but not miserly) more Nigerians will ask questions from our Governments and make them accountable for the disbursement and management of public funds.
(9) Public office holders nationwide will be more careful and watchful. Corruption will be drastically reduced.
(10) The price of PMS, gas, pipe-borne water and other utilities will reduce as we all determine to sacrifice for our Great Nation Nigeria.
(11) The fear of God and brotherly love will permeate every aspect of our reformed lives affecting both the leaders and their followers; for “when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.” — Proverbs 29:2.
THE NEW TAX LAW AND THE MIRACLE OF THE BYTE BUSTERS
Before closing, permit me to call on the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Ministry of Information and the National Orientation Agency to organize special meetings nationwide for the enlightenment of our People on the implications of the new Tax Law.
It is on record that one Alake of Egbaland was forced out of the Palace by women protesting against taxation. One Alaafin of Oyo was also removed from office on the basis of tax-related allegations.
Taxation is a most essential but sensitive aspect of any economy. Let us prepare our People for this important civic responsibility ahead of its implementation.
Next is the Digital Education for Innovation and Economic Development, being promoted by ODUA INVESTMENT FOUNDATION, chaired by Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu. I was part of the audience at the project presentation in Ibadan on 24th October, 2025. This novel project is nurturing our future by giving young people in secondary schools wings to fly in spite of geography or money.
It is demonstrating the transformative power of digital education through the different kinds of Apps designed and executed by Pupils from Rural and Urban Schools in the Southwest. The amazing Apps include those for Security, Health Technology, Educational Technology and Entertainment, including the Yoruba version of the popular TV Game Show: WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE.
I therefore urge all Ministries of Education, Science and Technology in the Southwest to support this project in order to make our Region the Silicon Valley of Nigeria, Because our forefathers were the ancient AI experts who invented the SIGIDI
END NOTES
Like the divination for Orunmila by Opa ponpo Ori Ewure and Agbedegbede Ake when his economic situation was in turmoil, we too can rest assured that Lehin Okunkun biribiri Imole a Tan.
And like Orunmila Agbonmiregun and his well-wishers, we can optimistically sing:
Ola Ikin ko le run o, Ola Ikin ko le run
Ola Ifa kii tan, Ola ku lehin
Ola Ikin ko le run
Ewi
Oju le pon koko
Ko sope k’oju o fo
Oro fi ni lakalaka, A si yin ni nu
Bi oni ba kan gogo
Ko nii so pe ki ola o ma dun joyin lo
Eniyan ti ko to iya wo
Kii mo riri adun
Orin:
Oluwa a seun ara l’aye wa, Laye wa
Oluwa a seun ara laye wa o (2ce)
B’omo Yoruba ba finukonu
B’Oke at’isale ba sise papo
Oluwa a seun ara l’aye wa o.
Amin.
** Retired Methodist Archbishop Ladigbolu, member of Afenifere Elders Council delivered this speech at the South-West Stakeholders’ Dialogue in Akure organised by Afenifere and DAWN Commission
