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Former governor of Osun State and pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has called for the restitution of genuine federalism as the foundation for Nigeria’s restructuring and national development.
Akande made this call while delivering a keynote address titled “Restructuring for Maximum Opportunities” at the Southwest Summit held at the International Conference Centre, The Dome, Akure, on Tuesday, 29th October, 2025.
The elder statesman, addressing political leaders, traditional rulers, technocrats, and delegates from across the six Southwest states, said the summit was a renewal of the Yoruba tradition of collective reasoning and a reminder that democracy thrives when leaders and citizens engage in honest dialogue about progress.
“This dialogue is not just another conference — it is a renewal of the Yoruba tradition of communal existence, of reasoning together before acting. Democracy deepens when leaders and citizens sit to talk honestly about progress,” Akande stated.
He commended the convener of the summit, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, whom he described as “a father and moral compass,” as well as Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for hosting the event. He also appreciated other Southwest governors and the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission for their consistent role in promoting regional cooperation and development.
Akande noted that Nigeria stands at a historic turning point under the current administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which, according to him, is championing a new era of fiscal, economic, and institutional reforms. These reforms, though tough in the short term, he said, are necessary steps toward rebuilding the national foundation and achieving long-term prosperity.
“The economy is being re-engineered through tax reforms, harmonization of revenue collections, and rationalization of expenditures to create a structure that rewards productivity rather than dependency,” he explained.
He emphasised that Nigeria was gradually witnessing “the dawn of a new era — one of responsibility, where every naira must count, every policy must produce results, and every reform must serve the people.”
In what he termed “the quiet restructuring,” Akande explained that genuine restructuring was already taking shape under the Tinubu administration through institutional decentralization and regional empowerment. He traced Nigeria’s history from the days of the northern and southern protectorates to the creation of regions and the eventual fragmentation into 36 states.
He lamented that the military era distorted Nigeria’s federal structure by replacing the principles of autonomy and regional responsibility with centralised command governance.
“Since Independence in 1960, the government, known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria, became hijacked by the military and because the military by nature is anti-federalism, the running of the country has since become unified and hierarchical,” he said.
Akande criticised the over-centralisation of governance and the multiplication of administrative units, which he described as “a move from the sublime to the ridiculous.” He argued that genuine restructuring should begin with the restoration of federal principles, equality of opportunity, and a system that guarantees maximum development for individuals, communities, and regions.
He however commended the creation of regional development commissions — including the North West, North Central, North East, South East, South South, and most recently, the South West Development Commission (SWDC) — as a major step in returning power to the grassroots.
“Each of these commissions represents not just geographical entities but engines of economic development. True development must begin from the grassroots, with each region in charge of its own destiny,” Akande stated.
Akande an octogenarian challenged the Southwest region to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the establishment of the Southwest Development Commission to lead the nation once again in innovation, governance, and economic transformation.
He reminded the audience of the region’s enviable legacy — as the birthplace of Nigeria’s first television station, first university, and first skyscraper — and urged stakeholders to replicate such visionary leadership in today’s governance.
“The SWDC must rise beyond paperwork and policy. It must become a movement of transformation — the battering ram against unemployment, insecurity, and disunity,” he declared.
The former governor identified economic diversification as one of the key pillars of the Tinubu administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.” He urged the Southwest to lead in driving Nigeria’s transition from oil dependency to a broad-based economy anchored on agriculture, technology, manufacturing, renewable energy, and human capital development.
“Our agriculture, the primary river of the economy, is being revitalized through investments in cassava, cocoa, rice, palm oil, poultry, and aquaculture value chains,” Akande said.
He explained that federal and state interventions in agro-processing, irrigation, and rural infrastructure were breathing new life into farming communities, creating jobs, and ensuring food security.
Beyond agriculture, Akande drew attention to the mining sector, where the government’s Solid Minerals Roadmap and creation of special mining zones are opening new opportunities for states in the Southwest to explore minerals such as gold, lithium, and bitumen responsibly.
He also acknowledged ongoing efforts to strengthen non-oil sectors — including manufacturing, digital economy, and creative industries — under initiatives such as the Accelerating Resource Mobilization Reforms (ARMOR) and the Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee.
“Diversification is not just about more sectors; it is about more opportunities — jobs for our youth, markets for our farmers, and industries for our entrepreneurs,” he explained.
Chief Akande expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership, describing him as a courageous reformer determined to break Nigeria’s long-standing cycles of dependency and dysfunction.
“I have seen firsthand the conviction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — a leader who believes that Nigeria must finally break free from cycles of dependency and dysfunction,” he said.
He urged the Yoruba nation to rally behind the administration, not merely because the president hails from the region, but because he is implementing the necessary reforms to reposition the country for sustainable growth.
“He is not asking for blind loyalty — only for shared sacrifice and belief in our collective destiny,” Akande said, calling on the “sons and daughters of Odùduwà” to support the national renewal project.
Akande concluded his address with a call for unity, innovation, and resilience among the people of the Southwest. He said the region must once again rise as the torchbearer of national development and a model of effective governance.
“Let us make the Southwest a model for others — a region where government works, youth thrive, and communities flourish,” he urged.
Reflecting on the region’s historical achievements, he said he saw hope in the people’s discipline and determination, which once produced great milestones such as Ibadan’s Liberty Stadium, the cocoa pyramids of Ondo and Ekiti, and Lagos’s Eko Atlantic project.
“May our discussions yield wisdom and direction. May our collaboration produce action and impact. Let the Southwest rise — strong in unity, rich in ideas, and bold in innovation,” Akande prayed.
He ended his keynote address with blessings for the region and the country: “God bless the Southwest. God bless Nigeria.”
Picture credit: Internet
