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How Regional Autonomy can Address Agitations for Self-Determination –ARG Leader

Razaq Bamidele

Leader of a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural, political and economic organization, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Honourable Olawale Oshun has said the agitators for regional autonomy and self-determination are merely calling for help, asserting that, their calls could easily be answered and their yearnings addressed by correct and proper restructuring of the national polity.

Oshun, who was the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Abuja during the Third Republic, in an interview with our reporter in Lagos, insisted that, all the acts of criminality that constitute threat to the national security like banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and other insurgences like the boko haram would fizzle out in no time if the needful is done with the faulty structure of the country.

According to him, if the people have governance in every federating unit in line with the wishes and aspirations of its own people, “I mean governance that protects interests of its own people, that is accountable to its own people, whether it is boko haram, whether it is banditry, militancy, they are all cry for help,” that regional arrangement can easily addressed.

The Senior Citizen in his 70s is of the conviction that, the fear of restructuring in some quarters should not be borne out of the erroneous impression that, some regions don’t have resources to survive declaring that, every region in Nigeria is naturally endowed by God to utilise for economic survival.

While buttressing his assertion that, no part of the country is not blessed with both natural and human resources, Oshun, who was the former Secretary of the famous National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), that fought the military to a standstill asserted that, “every part of this country is blessed and it is not only oil,” reminding that, “in recent time, we have been hearing of the Zamfara Gold, and we have been talking about agriculture, about herds of cattle which is a major productive capital if well managed.”

The renowned author, critic and right activist stated further that, “These are the key issues and unless we allow various restructuring that means changes that enable power to be granted to those who produce to enjoy their proceeds, the agitations may not cease so soon,” emphasising that, “it is not an argument to say, this place does not have anything because there is no part of this country that does not produce, whether it is gold, bauxite, bitumen or whatever it is.”

Citing examples, Oshun asked, “what asset base does Japan have to become one of the most powerful nations in the world today,” explaining that, it became great through technology and hard work.”

Concluding, he insisted that, “it is not an argument that, this place does not have anything,” bringing in Ekiti State which he said, “in terms of intellect, in terms of what you call intellectual property, which part of the country per a square space can compete with Ekiti and that is in itself is something marketable, that is a productive venture all by itself.”

Please watch out for the full interview later

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