No Restructuring, No Solution to Nigeria’s Problems – Lagos Speaker
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, yesterday, insisted that unless the 1999 constitution of Nigeria is revisited and the political, economic and social structures of the country are sanctimoniously and patriotically restructured, the development of Nigeria may never be achieved.
He said this when he received the leadership of a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Yoruba Koya Leadership and Training Foundation, popularly known as Yoruba Koya Movement, led its Convener, Otunba Deji Osibogun.
Obasa said: “Contrary to the perception of people, I am a pro-restructuring comrade. I am 100% in support of restructuring of Nigeria. I stand for a new people’s constitution drafted and written by the people. I have been supporting this struggle since I emerge as Speaker and I will continue to do so.”
“Lagos State House of Assembly under my leadership has passed resolutions time without number calling for the restructuring of Nigeria. We at the state House of Assembly cannot initiate it but there’s no way the process can be completed without our input.”
“I assure the good people of Yoruba Land and Nigerians that we, in the Lagos State parliament support restructuring. Unless this country is restructured, the quagmires facing us as a nation will continue to boom like wave of ocean. A new constitution that will address injustice, inequality and under-development militating against our country is the solution, irrespective of the quality of leaders we elect as President or Governor.”
“However, I want to appeal to Elders to join hands to ensure that the Youths in Yoruba Land exhibit the core values of Omoluabi that we are known for. Today, may young people in Yoruba Land cannot speak Yoruba language.”
“Our children don’t know proverbs; our culture is being jettisoned for foreign cultures which if not curbed, will not augur well for us as a nation. Finland has one of the best educational policies in the world; they achieved everything by introducing teaching in mother’s tongue which is now lacking in Nigeria.”
“We as a parliament have made it mandatory for all public and private schools in Lagos State to teach Yoruba as a subject. In Lagos parliament, we conduct our sitting every Wednesday in Yoruba Language. I beg all parents of Yoruba descent to sure that our culture and traditions are not eroded and killed.”
In a opening remarks, Akingba who spoke in Yoruba language decried the changing societal norms, values, culture and tradition linking the defect to cultural adjustments, language pollution and other effects of imported cultures.
The ex-NADECO Chieftain condemned the infrastructural abandonments and dwindling development across all Yoruba states in the South West geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
Speaking further, Akingba emphasized the need to revamp Yoruba race starting from her ideology, culture and norms to having a workable national constitution that favours every ethnicity in place.
He said: “The current constitution in operation within the country is faulty and there is the urgent need for us to return to the people’s constitution of 1957 even before the best hands can function well in public offices they are elected to serve.”
Also speaking, elder statesman, Chief Dr. Tola Adeniyi said that the purpose of the visit to Lagos parliament was to discuss and chart a strategic way out and proactive approach towards synergizing the past efforts of the Six State Assemblies in the South-West Geo-Political Zone towards Nigeria restructuring and constitutional restoration.
Adeniyi added that restructuring will be beneficial to the country for a formidable national structure.
The Chairman of a policy think-tank of Yoruba group, Voice of Reason, VOR, Dr. Olufemi Adegoke said the current Nigerian Constitution is a product of the military oligarchy, stating that unless we abrogate it now, the country is just postponing the evil day.
In his remarks, the Convener of Yoruba Koya, Otunba Osibogun appealed to Obasa to use his office as the Leader of all Speakers in Nigeria to lobby his colleagues in Yoruba Land and other like-minds to back restructuring.
Four copies of the proposed Nigerian Constitution written by the Voice of Reason (VOR) and a paper titled “Yoruba Nation in a Restructured Nigerian Federation” was presented to Obasa and his colleagues at the event.
Also on the delegation to Lagos Parliament were renowned Lawyer, Otunba Alaba Shonibare, scion of former Western region Minister, Omogbonjuola Osuntokun, Chief Kayode Osuntokun, the Asiwaju of Yoruba Community in California, United States, Otunba Tilewa Osifeso, Erudite University Don, Professor Tunde Fatunde, National Director of Organization and Publicity of the group, Mr. Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye, Youth Coordinator of the group in Lagos State, Comrade Ayodeji Adebayo among others.
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