Yorubas did not depend on the Federal Government before developing their region.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo did not need to be politically connected to the Federal Government before introducing free education and laying the foundation for the economic transformation of the old Western Region.
We built Cocoa House and established the first television station in Africa. We developed our infrastructure through agricultural revenue, taxation and the contributions of our people.
When Bola Ige and the other four Unity Party of Nigeria governors came into office in 1979, they continued the tradition of free education and public development, despite belonging to the opposition party at the federal level.
So, stop crying about hunger and blaming Abuja for everything. Yorubas have never been beggars. Direct your anger towards your state governors if they cannot manage the resources available to them.
We have always known how to develop our region, even while in opposition.
Any governor who cannot protect and develop his state has failed in his responsibility.
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LET ME REMIND YOU OF SOME HISTORICAL FACTS ABOUT THE YORUBA PEOPLE.
Before Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the old Western Region had already demonstrated that development was possible through purposeful leadership, agriculture, taxation and collective determination.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo introduced free primary education in 1955, five years before independence. He understood that the greatest investment any government could make was in its people.
That policy opened educational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of children whose parents could not afford school fees.
On October 31, 1959, Western Nigeria Television began broadcasting from Ibadan, becoming Africa's first television station.
Imagine the vision required to establish a television station in Ibadan before Nigeria gained independence!
Our forefathers were not waiting for anybody in Lagos or Abuja to develop their region.
The Western Region also developed Liberty Stadium, industrial estates, housing estates and roads connecting agricultural communities with commercial centres.
The Western Nigeria Development Corporation promoted industrial investments and helped establish the foundation for what eventually became O'dua Investment Company.
And where did much of the wealth come from?
From cocoa farmers in Ilesa, Ife, Ondo, Akure, Owo, Ekiti, Ijebu and other agricultural communities.
Our fathers planted cocoa. Our mothers farmed and traded. Cooperative societies supported agricultural production.
Cocoa House in Ibadan, completed in 1965, became a lasting symbol of that prosperity and the regional investment institutions established during Awolowo's era.
That building represents more than a skyscraper. It reminds us that agriculture once helped finance our development.
THE SECOND REPUBLIC CONTINUED THAT TRADITION.
When democracy returned in 1979, the Unity Party of Nigeria produced five governors: Chief Bola Ige in Oyo State, Chief Bisi Onabanjo in Ogun State, Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin in Ondo State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande in Lagos State and Professor Ambrose Alli in Bendel State.
These governors followed Awolowo's philosophy of free education, social welfare and development.
Jakande expanded public housing and educational infrastructure in Lagos. Bola Ige pursued free education in Oyo State. Onabanjo and Ajasin invested in education and public services, while Ambrose Alli expanded educational opportunities in Bendel State.
Remember, the National Party of Nigeria controlled the Federal Government, while these governors belonged to the opposition UPN.
Yet, political differences did not stop them from developing their states.
That is the Yoruba political history some people have conveniently forgotten.
THE YORUBA TRADITION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Long before modern government institutions became widespread, Yoruba communities were building schools, markets, roads and town halls through communal contributions.
Our fathers established town unions and development associations. People contributed money, materials and labour to build classrooms and support schools.
From Ibadan to Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Akure, Ado-Ekiti and Owo, communal development has always been part of our heritage.
Institutions such as Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti, Abeokuta Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School and Ibadan Grammar School contributed enormously to the educational advancement of our people.
Nobody needed to become the President's political friend before contributing to the development of his community.
Our people understood that education, hard work, productive agriculture and responsible leadership were the foundations of prosperity.
OUR HISTORY SHOULD TEACH EVERY GOVERNOR A LESSON.
My dear brothers and sisters, Nigeria's financial arrangements have changed since the days of regional government.
Today, states receive federal allocations, but those allocations should not become excuses for laziness or poor governance.
Every Yoruba state has enormous opportunities in agriculture, commerce, industry, technology, tourism and private investment.
What are our governors doing with these opportunities?
How much internally generated revenue are they collecting?
How much are they investing in education, healthcare, roads, water supply and employment?
What industries have they attracted? How many jobs have they created?
These are the questions we should be asking instead of blaming the Federal Government for every problem.
I am not suggesting that Abuja has no responsibility. The Federal Government must fulfil its constitutional obligations.
But our governors must also account for the resources entrusted to them.
The old Western Region demonstrated that purposeful leadership, sound economic planning and investment in education could transform society.
We should learn from that history instead of merely celebrating it.
A region does not develop simply because its political leaders are close to the President. It develops when its institutions work, its people are productive and its leaders are accountable.
Yorubas have never lacked the intelligence, manpower or entrepreneurial spirit to develop their region.
What we must demand today is leadership that understands our history and is prepared to build upon it.
Our forefathers did their part. The responsibility now belongs to our generation.
Stop looking towards Abuja for every solution. Hold your governors accountable.
Mogaji Wole Arisekola writes from Ibadan.
Our fathers planted cocoa. Our mothers farmed and traded. Cooperative societies supported agricultural production.
Cocoa House in Ibadan, completed in 1965, became a lasting symbol of that prosperity and the regional investment institutions established during Awolowo's era.
That building represents more than a skyscraper. It reminds us that agriculture once helped finance our development.
THE SECOND REPUBLIC CONTINUED THAT TRADITION.
When democracy returned in 1979, the Unity Party of Nigeria produced five governors: Chief Bola Ige in Oyo State, Chief Bisi Onabanjo in Ogun State, Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin in Ondo State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande in Lagos State and Professor Ambrose Alli in Bendel State.
These governors followed Awolowo's philosophy of free education, social welfare and development.
Jakande expanded public housing and educational infrastructure in Lagos. Bola Ige pursued free education in Oyo State. Onabanjo and Ajasin invested in education and public services, while Ambrose Alli expanded educational opportunities in Bendel State.
Remember, the National Party of Nigeria controlled the Federal Government, while these governors belonged to the opposition UPN.
Yet, political differences did not stop them from developing their states.
That is the Yoruba political history some people have conveniently forgotten.
THE YORUBA TRADITION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Long before modern government institutions became widespread, Yoruba communities were building schools, markets, roads and town halls through communal contributions.
Our fathers established town unions and development associations. People contributed money, materials and labour to build classrooms and support schools.
From Ibadan to Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Akure, Ado-Ekiti and Owo, communal development has always been part of our heritage.
Institutions such as Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti, Abeokuta Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School and Ibadan Grammar School contributed enormously to the educational advancement of our people.
Nobody needed to become the President's political friend before contributing to the development of his community.
Our people understood that education, hard work, productive agriculture and responsible leadership were the foundations of prosperity.
OUR HISTORY SHOULD TEACH EVERY GOVERNOR A LESSON.
My dear brothers and sisters, Nigeria's financial arrangements have changed since the days of regional government.
Today, states receive federal allocations, but those allocations should not become excuses for laziness or poor governance.
Every Yoruba state has enormous opportunities in agriculture, commerce, industry, technology, tourism and private investment.
What are our governors doing with these opportunities?
How much internally generated revenue are they collecting?
How much are they investing in education, healthcare, roads, water supply and employment?
What industries have they attracted? How many jobs have they created?
These are the questions we should be asking instead of blaming the Federal Government for every problem.
I am not suggesting that Abuja has no responsibility. The Federal Government must fulfil its constitutional obligations.
But our governors must also account for the resources entrusted to them.
The old Western Region demonstrated that purposeful leadership, sound economic planning and investment in education could transform society.
We should learn from that history instead of merely celebrating it.
A region does not develop simply because its political leaders are close to the President. It develops when its institutions work, its people are productive and its leaders are accountable.
Yorubas have never lacked the intelligence, manpower or entrepreneurial spirit to develop their region.
What we must demand today is leadership that understands our history and is prepared to build upon it.
Our forefathers did their part. The responsibility now belongs to our generation.
Stop looking towards Abuja for every solution. Hold your governors accountable.
Mogaji Wole Arisekola writes from Ibadan.
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