File: Some Sourh-West Governors

The Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative, a pressure group, has urged governors of the South-West states to initiate policies and programmes that would revamp the region’s agriculture sector.

The group made the request in a communiqué issued at the end of its retreat in Ibadan on Monday.

The communiqué was signed by the Secretary of the group, Mr Femi Adefemiwa, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

The group said that the call had become necessary to improve the economies of states in the region by exploiting its natural potential.

It urged the governors to revive the Obafemi Awolowo-era Farm Settlements, recalling that tremendous successes were recorded during the period.

According to the group, that period witnessed a boost in food and cash crops production as well as provided employment opportunities for the youths in the region.

The group advocated for the setting up of think-tank groups comprising of experts in various fields.

The experts, it said could develop specific programmes and achievable timelines for the attainment of agriculture revolution in the region.

“The think-tank groups should also ensure the implementation of programmes and initiatives aimed at sustaining human, socio-economic, institutional and infrastructural development of the South-west.”

The group called for unity between the Yoruba and their kinsmen in Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta states with a view to bonding with them as one entity with a common origin.

It further urged the Federal Government to restructure the country and return to it to true federalism as practiced during the First Republic.

It said the restructuring would also address the increasing agitations as well as the economic and political challenges currently facing the country.

(NAN)