The Olubadan Anniversary Symposium, held today, has re-echoed the calls for the restructuring of the country.
It was organised to mark the first coronation anniversary of Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun CFR, Alli Okunmade II.
The Olubadan anniversary symposium had the topic “Ibadan, Treasure Of The Last Empire and The Challenges Of Urban Development”.
The Olubadan anniversary symposium was held at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan.
It was delivered by Mogaji (Professor) Aderemi Raji-Oyelade with three discussants- Dr. Yemi Farounbi, Alagba Adedayo Alao and Dr. Saheed Ige.
The symposium was chaired by a broadcast and public relations guru and the Maye Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oloye Lekan Alabi.
Also prominent Ibadan sons and daughters both at home and in the Diaspora converged to honour the 42nd Olubadan.
The three discussants at the Olubadan anniversary symposium insisted that nothing worthwhile could be achieved without restructuring the country.
Alao who opened the discussion gave kudos to the ancient metropolis for being the saviour of the Yoruba race.
He recalled the gallantry of the Ibadan Army in the war against the Fulanis in the late 19th Century. He said the war permanently put paid to the invading expedition of the marauders into Yorubaland.
Alao advised Nigerian government to study the Ibadan political system through which it won various wars in its formative years. He said Ibadan has become a giant and formidable metropolis with the most stable traditional ascension system in Africa.
Dr. Ige in his submission lamented the dearth of commensurate development of the ancient. This he said was in spite of its size, history and population.
He challenged Ibadan sons and daughters to focus on what could bring about more development to the metropolis. He said the height attained in all spheres of life could not be divorced from the personal efforts of some indigenes.
The university lecturer also lamented the growing population of out-of school children in Ibadan. He recalled that the education need of every child in the past was a collective responsibility of all.
Dr Ige said the current situation of people not caring for one another portended danger for the future.
Dr. Farounbi (former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines and Guest Speaker at the symposium) aggregated all opinions of the discussion.
He declared: “There can’t be a beautiful Ibadan under the present Nigerian structure. If Awolowo didn’t control his resources, he won’t be able to build Housing Corporation and all other things while in government.”
Farounbi gave kudos to the founding fathers of the ancient metropolis and its former political leaders.
He said they with genuine commitments ensured that Ibadan of today is the educational, cultural and art centre of Nigeria.
In the absence of restructuring, the broadcast veteran tasked Ibadan sons and daughters to work on repositioning Ibadan economically. He said they must ensure that business also thrives so as to support the huge population.
He remarked that Ibadan “is a home to every Yoruba person. This is why hardly would anybody of note in all adjoining states not have residence in the Oyo State capital.”
Farounbi added: “Generally we find in Ibadan steady growth without a commensurate spike in infrastructural and corporate development.
“The geographical fact that Ibadan borders a megapolis like Lagos and yet remain a cosmopolis is a challenge. It is a burden for urban development.”
