Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the South West Development Stakeholders Forum has called for a parley with the presidential candidates of the major political parties in Nigeria.
The Forum, comprising the civil society
organisations, professionals bodies, and religious leaders made the call recently during a stakeholders meeting on Thursday, 8th December 2022.
According to a statement which was issued after the stakeholders meeting, the Forum called on all the presidential candidates to make themselves available for a parley with stakeholders in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Forum further noted that the South West is the industrial and commercial engine room of Nigeria and that the region deserves to know from the presidential candidates exactly how they intend to incorporate the South West in their agenda for a united, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria.
The statement signed by Dr. Alao Adedayo, Otunba Ayodeji Osibogun, Sir Gbenga Adebusuyi, Prince Kayode Adeyemi, Mrs. Foluso Oyenuga, and Ayo Famuyide reads:
“All matrices clearly show that the Nigerian economy is driven by economic activities in the South West of Nigeria.
Given its growing population of more than 50 million residents, its historical trajectory as the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, its strategic political importance, and huge potential in driving national growth and development; the region deserves to know from the presidential candidates exactly how they intend to incorporate the South West in their agenda for a united, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria.
“The South West can also boast of having residents from most, if not all, ethnic nationalities of Nigeria. We are the biggest, non-discriminatory, melting pot for Nigerians and their social, commercial and other development activities and therefore deserve the critical consideration of all candidates.
With just over two months to the general elections, there is a need for the Presidential, as well as the region’s Gubernatorial and Legislative candidates, to pronounce their plans for a concrete development agenda for the South West Region.
“The South West Development Stakeholders is willing and ready to bring the Presidential candidates to the table to address Yoruba people, and indeed all Nigerians living in the South West, of specific plans to make them true stakeholders in the new unfolding federation.”
Detailed plans for the parley will be announced soon.
