Time is now ripe for all true sons, daughters and friends of Western Nigeria to rally round to ensure that the survival of the Development Agenda For Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission) is further guaranteed.
This commission, which was set up by the Governments of the Southwest States of Nigeria as the institutional and programme management body to midwife their Regional Integration Agenda some years back is supposed to be the fulcrum upon which so much will be done in Yorubaland.
Specifically, the governments of the states in the region have charged the Commission to work assiduously in enacting a focused development paradigm for mobilising the collective strengths, assets and capabilities lying within the States of Southwest Nigeria, towards achieving sustainable socio-economic growth and development that would result in high standard of living improved well-being for the people of the Region.
It is therefore the dedicated coordinating agency, fully empowered by these Governments to ensure the delivery of the composite development aspirations of the Region.
Based on the 10th Floor of the iconic Cocoa House in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State and technically, the capital city of the Yorubas, the Commission has done so much in the little while that it has been in existence.
Many, perhaps, do not know that it played a very major role in the feat of bringing in Lagos State as a member of the O’dua Investment Company. Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti States’ joint efforts are now being complemented.
In addition, the recently held Security Summit in Ibadan that saw Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Dapo Abiodun, Seyi Makinde, Gboyega Oyetola, Kayode Fayemi and Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in attendance was packaged by the egg-heads at DAWN Commission headed by the indefatigable Seye Oyeleye.
The recurrent issue of insecurity in Nigeria, and indeed in the Western States of the country has made it more imperative for this Commission to be empowered.
Fortunately, Yorubaland has the most forward-looking and vibrant crop of elites. It is now time for them all to rise in support of the DAWN Commission as a body that will dictate how the Yorubas will adapt to ‘prevailing situations’ in the country. The elected Governors cannot do it alone. No other time is more auspicious for the Seye Oyeleye-led outfit to be supported.
Long live Western Nigeria! Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
