Restructuring: Fayemi urges South-West leaders to change strategies

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State says  South-West leaders must adopt new methods if their quest for restructuring of the country is to  be realised.
The governor,  who spoke in Ado Ekiti at a national retreat of  the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) which he hosted, said the current tactics being used in agitating for restructuring was  defective.
According to him, the Yoruba race needs  to be more tactical if it is indeed desirous of actualising its desired restructuring .
He urged the proponents of restructuring  in the region to liaise with other zones  on how to actualise the plan.
“There are those who entertained fear on this issue of restructuring and whether this is legitimate or not, we must reach out to them because we are not an island onto ourselves.
“We don’t need to be shouting on the roof tops  before we get it, but if we want to do it alone, the agitation will fail,’’  he said.
The governor also expressed dismay at voter apathy in the South-West region  in the last election, saying a total of 16.2 million were initially registered in the region while the number of those  who voted was not impressive.
He said: “In the last presidential poll, Ekiti registered 909,000 voters, only 381,000 voted.
” In Osun 1.67million registered , only 737,000 voted;  Ondo, 1.8million  registered , 586,00 voted;  Oyo, 2.7million  registered , 891,000 voted;  2.36million  registered in Ogun, 605,000 voted and Lagos with 6.3million, only 1.56million  voted.
“This might be caused by deficit of trust or fraudulent multiple registration, but whatever the case was, as long as we remain a constituent part of this country, ARG should reflect on this and act appropriately
“If it was as a result of deficit of voter education, then the ARG and governments need a lot to do.
“ Religion also affected us  because some people were brainwashed to vote based on religious consideration.’’
Fayemi also expressed the readiness of the APC governors in the region to work with the governor-elect of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, in the overall interest of the region.
Makinde emerged victorious on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Governors Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, who were represented at the retreat, called  for a return to the values  of the  old western region.
The National Chairman of the group, Mr Wale Oshun, reiterated the need  for restructuring and advised that it should be taken to the front burner to benefit the Yoruba race.
He also canvassed for  true federalism,  urging political leaders in the region to take a firm stand to protect the rights of the Yoruba race.
“Our leaders who know that restructuring is an issue that is germane must speak up the way the ACF used to speak on some national issues,’’  he said.