The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has renewed the call for a return to a regional system of government as a solution to corruption and a pathway to Nigeria’s sustainable development.
According to a statement on Tuesday, Adams said Nigeria’s slow pace of progress was largely due to the over-centralisation of power at the federal level.
He made the remarks while delivering his keynote address as the Global Convener of the Oodua Progressives Union at the 11th edition of the association’s Europe Summit 2025 held in Naples, Italy, over the weekend.
Adams noted that with restructuring, the six geopolitical zones in the country would be able to utilise their resources judiciously and develop at their own pace.
He said the current unitary system of government promotes corruption and hinders effective governance.
“Nigeria was plunged into crisis following the military incursion into administration in 1966, after which Aguiyi Ironsi changed our Federal Constitution to a Unitary Constitution,” he said.
“A nation of more than 250 million people cannot continue to operate under this over-centralised arrangement that dictates that resources belonging to states and local governments must first go to the centre. This has ensured that subnational governments cannot develop at their own pace without relying on handouts from the federal government.”
Adams urged members of the OPU and Nigerians in the diaspora to actively support the call for restructuring, describing it as the only viable way forward for the country.
“You must demand restructuring as the only way the country can move forward. You can drive the cause peacefully and ideologically. We do not have any other nation, so we must join hands in finding solutions to Nigeria’s challenges,” he said.
As Nigeria marked 32 years since the June 12, 1993, election, several pro-democracy activists also reiterated the call for true federalism as the foundation for national development.
Among them was the President of Women Arise, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, who maintained that restructuring remained the only route to genuine progress.
“There must be security of lives and property. Insecurity has become an embarrassment to this country, and I know this menace will become a thing of the past if Nigeria is restructured. Our constitution must be reworked to reflect the will of the people,” she said at the 25th edition of the Oodua People’s Congress event in Lagos.
Speaking at the summit, the OPU Europe Coordinator, Alhaji Ganiyu Wahab, said the gathering represented more than a convergence of ideas, describing it as a reaffirmation of the group’s commitment to promoting the interests, culture, and aspirations of the Yoruba people in the diaspora.
“Today in Europe, we continue that noble tradition — fostering solidarity, empowerment, and development. This summit provides us a platform to deliberate on pressing issues, from education and economic advancement to cultural preservation and political engagement,” Wahab said.
“It is an opportunity to forge new alliances, exchange ideas, and chart pathways that will propel our community to greater heights. We must harness the strength of our unity, the depth of our cultural heritage, and the innovative spirit that defines us as a people.”
The OPU Italy Coordinator, Adeola Oreniyi, in his remarks, described the Yoruba language as an irreplaceable treasure that embodies the identity and spirit of the Yoruba people.
He called on all OPU members across the world to commit to preserving the Yoruba heritage through education, innovation, and collective action.
“Our focus is to instil in all our members an unwavering interest in the progress and development of the Yoruba race,” he said.
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