A group, Yagba Concerned Citizens, has called for adoption of a zoning arrangement for the nomination of candidates for the House of Representatives to prevent monopolization of the position.
This was part of the resolutions reached at the 2-day Yagba Concerned Citizens’ Leadership, Security and Political Summit held over the weekend.
The virtual summit also called for transparency and accountability in local governance.
In a communiqué signed by Chief Olure Peter Olawale and Mr. Segun Arotiba, Chairman and Secretary respectively, the group explained that the summit focused on addressing the effects of insecurity and other pressing issues affecting Yagba Land.
It added that the summit was successfully attended by academicians, professionals, political and traditional leaders, representatives of non-indigenes, union leaders, community representatives, and students, among others.
The summit called for implementation of an educational program on zoning, power-sharing, rotation of power, and quota systems, as practiced at the federal and party levels.
They also called on members of the House of Representatives from Yagba to interact regularly with their constituents and provide feedback on their activities.
Participants identified issue of security as a major concern for both citizens and visitors in Yagba Land. The summit highlighted the importance of a comprehensive approach to addressing crimes such as kidnapping and called for stronger collaboration between law enforcement agencies, local leaders, and the public.
Additional concerns discussed included porous borders, lack of personal safety education, the absence of a special squad to address kidnapping, the indiscriminate sale of land, and poor management of information related to past kidnapping incidents in Yagba Land.
The summit recommended increased investment in community policing and collaboration with traditional leaders to foster trust.
On leadership and governance, the summit called for the establishment of a leadership training and mentoring program for emerging leaders.
The called for promotion of effective communication between government officials and citizens and a commitment to fostering unity and collaboration across political and social lines.
They harped on promotion of the Yagba Traditional Council under the jurisdiction of Oba Yagba, which would rotate among the three chairmen of the Traditional Councils of the three Local Government Areas.
This body, the summit proposed, would be funded by the office of the House of Representatives, the three House of Assembly members, and the three Council Chairmen, until it is gazetted
The resource persons at the included Hon. Abidemi Adeyemi, Director of Finance at the Nigeria Niger River Basin; Mr. Lawrence Adenipekun, PhD, Department of Political Science at Afe-Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, and Chief Olure Peter Olawale, CEO of Five Os Security Nigeria Limited.
The welcome address was delivered by the Convener/Chairman of the Yagba Concerned Citizens, Chief Olure Peter Olawale. Remarks were also made by Dr. O.A. Abe, Engr. A. Oludoyi, Madam Seke Ampitan, Mr. Ayodele Aina and Pastor Olugbenga Alege, among others. The vote of thanks was delivered by Prince Babajide Iletogun, Retired Director, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.
The summit emphasized the need for effective leadership to drive sustainable development in the Yagba region.
