Chief Akinjide Osuntokun, Professor at
The 6th Splash FM Annual Lecture and the Birthday of the Splash FM Founding Chairman, Chief Adebayo Akande collectively held on the 8th July 2013, at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan.
The double event which attracted dignitaries of reputable categories was anchored with a mind-edifying lecture, titled ‘The Place of the Yoruba in the Ethno-Political Configuration of Nigeria’ and delivered by the distinguished guest speaker, Prof. Akinjide Osuntokun OON, Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ekiti State University.
Present at this event were; Hon. Justice Adekola,former Chief Judge of Oyo state, the Chairman of the day, Chief Adebayo Akande, the Founding chairman of Splash FM, Professor of University of Lagos, Chief Dele Aiku, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Bisi Ashimolowo, Chief Operation Officer of Splash fm, Chief Akin Oke, State Chairman of ACN of Nigeria and other dignitaries of intellectual and political chamber.
The Guest Speaker, Prof. Akinjide Osuntokun delivering the lecture of the day, deliberated on the Nigeria Political system, analyzing sequentially the position of Nigeria politics from the early days of British Colonization to the present day so-called ‘democratic rule’.
He hinted that it was the ossification of the internal ethnic division which was brought about by the British promoted inequality that has bedeviled the relations among Nigerian people. This kind of situation he said made political stability difficult and created cut throat competition for power at the centre.
He further blamed the problem with Nigeria to the fact that the people were not consulted in the constitutional provision made; saying that this subsequently resulted to difficulty in achieving a political stability which is needed for a unified nation.
The distinguished guest speaker, Prof. Akinjide also made mention of the state of political affairs of today. He said that there is marginalization of the South-West, pointing out that government must not wait until there is a rebellious or armed militancy of the youth of the South-West before embarking on Fire-Brigade or palliative measure.
However, Prof. akinjide explained that with the look of things at Nigeria’s economy, the demands of the Yoruba for a convocation of a national conference to determine the future of Nigeria if accede to, may well lead to the restructuring of the country into six federating states based on the present zonal arrangements.
Suggesting the way forward, he urged that Nigerians must do everything as a people to reduce conflicts and to reduce bumping into other peoples and stepping on other people’s toes, which is the order of the day. He also said that equity and fairness should always be the credo all the time to ensure political stability in Nigeria.
An anonymous at the occasion also declared that with emergence of the Action Congress, transformation of the Yoruba is being realized and the lost glory would be recovered.
Reacting on the question of how the issue of marginalization can be checked in the system, the Guest speaker said cited that Nigerians should migrate form the idea of seeming fair to the reality of being fair, asserting that people should be allowed to have their own idea and the practice of centralization of idea stopped. He further said that ideas must be accepted on the basis of its genuinety and not because its coming from a particular ethnic group.
The Guest speaker, Chief Akinjide ended his speech on a resounding note that Nigerian as a whole must make sure to fight for proper federalism.
