By Samuel Adegoke
The Director General, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Mr Seye Oyeleye has explained that the commission works for the development of Nigeria’s South West region, not just for the good of Yoruba people.
Oyeleye stated this at a meeting with South West regional editors in his Cocoa House office, Dugbe, Ibadan.
He emphasised that though the South West region is mostly peopled by Yoruba, it plays host to all ethnics in Nigeria as well as hundreds of thousands of foreigners across the six states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States, adding that the well-being of all residents is the major focus of the commission.
Oyeleye said the DAWN Commission’s mandate was to develop measures that will sustain the region’s position as the safest, peaceful and most prosperous place to live, work and do business in Nigeria. He pointed out that in doing this, there is no segregation by reason of origin or ethnicity because all members of the population are good resources for the growth and prosperity of the region.
Given its population size and quality as well as other natural resources and peaceful coexistence, he said it is in the interest of Nigeria to allow Western Nigeria to prosper. For him, Nigeria has reached a stage where it should restructure along the lines of development. He said the need for economic restructuring has nothing to do with politics but everything to do with development and prosperity of all Nigerians.
“We must rethink how we address the economy to create jobs, empower citizens and open opportunities for the youths. Things may look bad but it is not late for us here in South West. A prosperous Western Nigeria is a prosperous Nigeria.”
Since the establishment of the commission in 2013, Oyeleye revealed that it has recorded a number of successes in many areas including reforms, open governance, rejigging education, mining and cooperation among governors. He posited that regional integration is a far better way of approaching development than each state working independent of others.
