Why Regional Autonomy Is Imperative, By Aregbesola

Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan
Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria.

GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has explained that the regional autonomy being clamoured for by the Yoruba nation is to strengthen the viability of the country along the lines of civilized, modern and multinational society.
Although Aregbesola, at the Yoruba Assembly conference held in Ibadan, the political capital of the South West, restated the region’s ‘strong faith’ in the entity called Nigeria, he, however, opined that reform was imperative.
“We are of the considered opinion that our country’s backward state presently does not stem from any inherent non-viability; the problem is the way we are running it. Therefore, we believes that we must make it work by reforming it. The time is ripe, the idea is right, and the principle is just for us, as a people, to set out our vision, as regards how we want to live our lives and what we want to do with our future.
To address the multi-faceted problems confronting the nation, the Osun State governor said key issues of autonomy, regional integration and true federalism must be given priority attention.
The governor faulted the idea of state creation and advocated  return to regional structure, where each region would be able to develop at its own pace.
“Imagine what used to be Western Region now divided into eight states with each having its own capital, political institutions as well as civil service structures.  It simply means we are running eight governments in place of one now and the resources have not increased at the same pace.”