31/10/2025
FASORANTI TO SOUTH-WEST LEADERS: DITCH PARTY RIVALRY, COMPETE ON PERFORMANCE AND DEVELOPMENT
In a powerful address that set the tone for a major regional gathering, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has called on political leaders in the South-West to abandon divisive party politics and instead compete on delivering tangible development to the people.
Fasoranti’s message, delivered on Wednesday at the opening of the two-day South-West Stakeholders’ Dialogue in Akure, Ondo State, emphasized unity, collaboration, and a focus on performance metrics like job creation, education, and healthcare.
Represented by a former Secretary-General of Afenifere, Senator Femi Okurounmu, the elder statesman charged ministers and political appointees from the region to transcend partisan interests.
“Our ministers must never forget that they are not just cabinet officials; they are voices of a people whose aspirations must be fiercely defended,” Fasoranti stated. “Work collaboratively with your governors, irrespective of party affiliations, and ensure that federal projects and policies benefit the South-West equitably.”
He directed a specific call to the region's governors, urging them to embrace a model of interstate collaboration for collective growth. “When Osun innovates successfully, let Oyo adopt and adapt. When Lagos leads, let others follow. When Ondo discovers a solution, let it become the South-West’s solution,” he advised.
Fasoranti saved a pointed message for the younger generation of leaders and citizens, urging a return to core Yoruba values. “Stop competing over party labels,” he declared. “Start competing over who has built more schools, created more jobs, and provided better healthcare. That is the politics that serves our people.”
The call for unity was strongly echoed by the Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State. “The South-West cannot afford fragmentation,” Sanwo-Olu asserted. “We must build a shared vision that uplifts all our states. Our strength lies in collaboration, not competition.”
He aligned with Fasoranti’s stance, stating that the region must reclaim its leadership in education, innovation, and governance. The Lagos Governor also commended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms for restoring investor confidence and endorsed the proposed South-West Development Commission to accelerate regional growth.
Other governors, including Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, emphasized the importance of inclusion, accountability, and robust democratic engagement between the government and the citizenry.
The dialogue, themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future,” served as a significant platform for consensus-building. The event brought together a broad spectrum of leaders, including Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), key federal ministers, traditional rulers, and former political leaders like Chief Bisi Akande.
Akande, while praising President Tinubu’s courage in pursuing reforms, urged the federal government to deepen federalism and ensure that development is “measured by impact, not promises.”
The collective voice from the summit signals a strong regional push for a more unified and performance-driven approach to governance, setting aside partisan differences for the collective progress of the South-West.