*Says division of the country into many states by the military had done more harm than good
WorldStage– The pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Progress( APC), Chief Bisi Akande has described the development commissions approved by Tinubu as a quiet restructuring of the polity.
Speaking on Wednesday at the ongoing South-West stakeholders’ dialogue organised by Afenifere, the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, DAWN Commission and South-West governors, he said the division of the country into many states by the military had done more harm than good.
He also said that the reforms of President Bola Tinubu have a long time benefits for transformative stance of the country.
The theme of the two-day summit is: “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress. Charting the Future.”
“In this administration, Nigeria seems to be undergoing a new transformation rooted in courage, bold decisions, disciple and belief in Nigeria’s dream.
“The reforms that are unfolding are deliberate step to move the country to a desired state, though it is tough at the beginning but will have long time benefits.
“This dialogue is a renewed commitment of the Yoruba communal existence of reasoning together before acting.
“It is a reminder that democracy thrives when leaders and citizens talk together in charting the way forward,” he said.
The pioneer national chairman of APC said that the military intervention in governance introduced unified and hierarchical system into governance in the country.
Akande called for a purposeful restructuring with the restitution of genuine federalism.
He said that the restructuring must ensure equality of opportunity for all citizens, with maximum opportunity for personal, community, regional and national development.
According to him, a quieter, more profound restructuring is already happening through regional empowerment and institutional decentralisation being championed by the President.
“In a stroke of visionary leadership, in addition to the South-South Development Commission, the present administration has established and inaugurated five regional development commissions.
“They are: the North-West, North-Central, North-East, South-East, and now our own South-West Development Commission (SWDC).
“Each of these commissions represents not just geographical entities, but economic development engines or grassroots-focused commissions – recognition that true development must begin from the grassroots, with each region in charge of its own destiny.
“For us in the South-West, this is both an opportunity and a responsibility — to once again lead by example.
“We must demonstrate how local collaboration, innovative thinking, and strategic implementation can drive sustainable development – especially now in these times of diversification under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
Akande noted that one of the cornerstones of the Tinubu’s administration’s reform agenda is economic diversification.
He said that it was the shift away from oil dependency toward a broad-based resilient economy that leverages agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and human capital to create sustainable growth and shared prosperity for all citizens.
Akande said the South-West must stand at the vanguard of the transformation.
He noted that agriculture, the primary river of the economy, is being revitalised through massive federal and sub-national investments in value chains, from cassava and cocoa to rice, palm oil, poultry and aquaculture.
He stated that attention was turning to mining and solid minerals, where Nigeria’s wealth could run deep beneath its soil.
He said the new Solid Minerals Roadmap and the creation of special mining zones were positioning states — including those in the South-West to tap into gold, lithium, bitumen and other high-value minerals responsibly and profitably.
