“Such engagements between the government and the people should be regular. Through such engagements, citizens, traditional rulers and other stakeholders will know what government is doing and this can enable the citizens take advantage of the opportunities provided by government”
By Nudoiba Ojen
The two-day South-West stakeholders’ dialogue which held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, availed the opportunity to chart a new course for the development of the region.
The event, which organized by the South West Development Commission in conjunction with Afenifere, had the theme, ‘Strengthening democracy through dialogue: assessing progress, charting the future’.
The Oore of Otun Ekiti and Paramount Ruler of Moba land, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, said, “My impression about the two-day programme is it helped traditional rulers to know what the Federal Government is doing and a way of measuring their performance in the last two years”.
The Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu-Alagbado and Oba Adeagbo represented Ekiti State monarchs at event.
Oba Adeagbo, who is the Southwest Coordinator of National Council of Traditional Rulers, said the dialogue was opportunity for the scorecard in various sectors of the economy of the Southwest and as well the country.
He hailed the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Dele Alake, who spoke about developments in the sold mineral sector and how the sector has grown in leaps and bounds due to the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The Oore said, “The lessons to be learnt is that such engagements between the government and the people should be regular. Through such engagements, citizens, traditional rulers and other stakeholders will know what government is doing and this can enable the citizens take advantage of the opportunities provided by government. This will enable implementation, collaboration and action,” Oba Adeagbo said.
The Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr Charles Akinola, said that its main focus is to carry out projects that would integrate the entire region.
Akinola said that the commission was intensifying efforts towards achieving greater regional connectivity and integrated development across the six states of the region.
He pledged that the SWDC would do its best to be partners in progress with all stakeholders, including the governors, the traditional rulers, trade groups, youth market and women, among others.
Also, the Afenifere National Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, called on the governors in the South West to work together for the development of the region regardless of their party affiliation.
The elder statesman also warned them against division along party lines at the expense of the welfare and development of the people of the region.
