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The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to consider Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as headquarters of the South West Development Commission.
The Senate recently passed into law the bill establishing the commission which would be saddled with responsibilities to facilitate collective growth and development of the six states in the South-West zone.
The party made the call in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, at the weekend.
The Oyo APC commended the National Assembly for the speedy passage of the bill, which it described as imperative to guarantee equity, fairness and national integration.
The statement read: “The SWDC, if well structured and fully funded, would bridge the gap in the areas of special interventions, focused attention and infrastructural development.
“The idea of a South West Development Commission goes beyond replicating what has been done in other geopolitical zones. We welcome it wholeheartedly as it holds a lot of promise to the South West which has a unique record of regional integration and innovative leadership. The new Commission will, no doubt, afford the people of the South West a platform for collaboration, innovation and peer support.
“Pointedly, the location of the main operation base or headquarters of the commission is as important as its creation. Without mincing words, no other town or city comes close to Ibadan as an ideal place to harbour the headquarters of SWDC with its liaison offices in Ikeja, Akure, Abeokuta, Ado-Ekiti, Osogbo and Abuja. There are many reasons for this submission and none of which can be wished away by the people who mean well for the entire Yoruba race.
“Apart from being the headquarters of the defunct Western Region, Ibadan offers a sense of belonging to all and sundry, especially the good people of the Yoruba race. The ancient city is where an average Yoruba man or woman can call home and this explains why every hamlet, village and town across Yorubaland and beyond has their representation in Ibadan as residents of critical stakeholders.
“Besides, siting the headquarters of SWDC in Ibadan would create a leverage to all the six states while there would not be any room for unfair treatment or any imbalance in the running and operation of the Commission.
“It is also worthy of note that meaningful partnership with the Development Agenda for the Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission) would accelerate quick realisation of the goals and objectives of the SWDC, and we want the relevant stakeholders to look in this direction.
“We use this opportunity to warn against sabotage from any quarters, as the Commission is expected to be activated and swing into action immediately with good funding from the Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders, including the governors in the zone.”
Meanwhile, the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has revealed how federal lawmakers from the South-west states lobbied their colleagues from other geo-political zones to pass the Bill for the establishment of the South West Development Commission.
Bamidele, also the Leader of the South-west National Assembly Caucus, disclosed that lawmakers from the South-west APC “have been a formidable force, contributing significantly to the progress and stability of the National Assembly.”
He made these remarks at the 2024 South-west Assembly of the APC held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday where he suggested the need to institutionalise the assembly for regular and sustained interaction among stakeholders.
At the regional assembly on Saturday, Bamidele explained how the South-west Caucus worked with federal lawmakers from other geo-political zones to secure majority support for the passage of the SWDC Bill, 2024 at the upper chamber
Specifically, the Senate Leader highlighted the considerable influence of the South-West Caucus in the 10th National Assembly, pointing out that out of the 18 senators from the geo-political, 15 are from the APC.
This figure, according to him, makes the South-West the largest single bloc of APC senators in the Senate.
“This has given us considerable influence, and we have used it effectively for the good of our people,” Bamidele said.
He noted that the push for the establishment of the SWDC was not just a necessity, but a matter of equity, as other regions have similar commissions in place, saying every member of the South West National Assembly, regardless of party affiliation, worked together to ensure this passage of the bill in the Senate.
He said, “We are now awaiting concurrence from the House of Representatives before transmitting it to the President for assent.
“We recognise that our success is not limited to members of the APC alone. Our colleagues from other political parties have been just as committed to the success of our region.”
“This bill, and many others, remind us that when it comes to the development of our people, there is no room for division. We must continue to work together to achieve more,” the Senate Leader explained.
