Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Monday held a meeting with his Osun and Ekiti states counterparts, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and Dr. Kayode Fayemi respectively, in Akure where they unfolded plans for economic ties among their states.


The meeting also agreed to maintain a common position on the review of the 1999 Constitution that would ensure the practice of true federalism.


Fayemi, who briefed journalists after the meeting said the three states had agreed to form an economic bond that would improve the lives of their citizens.


He said the idea of integration was not about race but about contiguity between states that are neighbours and share the same geographical boundary and values.


He said, “We believe that, as progressive minded people who are also governing a well educated and enlightened people, we should find a way to synergise our programmes.


“We need to organise our states in a manner that our economies of scale would ensure better delivery of good governance. It is all about geographical contiguity.”


Fayemi said the three governors were committed to making a difference in the lives of their people.


“We want to collaborate and work closely together in the areas of power generation and distribution; we are looking at the rail system, edcation, health centre, renewable energy and other areas where we can touch on,” he added.


Fayemi said there was the need for regional integration among the states of the zone. He said the state governors should not allow complacency so that there would not be a disconnect between the government and the people of their respective states.


“We must not allow complacency. Our people love us but we have the burden of the mandate. There are lessons to learn. There are core values people know us for and these values must not be jettisoned because of politics.


“We have to deliver dividends of democracy to our people. We have ties and we must not do anything to undermine the ties. If we allow the ties to slack, the opposition will penetrate our ranks and that will not be in the interest of our people who voted us into office,” he added.


Aregbesola explained that it was not good for the three states to see themselves as separate entities because they were politically and economically connected.


The governor, who said he grew up in Ikare-Akoko in Ondo State, noted, “We should work towards integrating the policies and politics of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and continue from where the late sage’s policies that made the South-West the leading light among other regions in the country stopped.”


Mimiko congratulated the two visiting governors on their victories at the courts, and stressed the urgent need for regional integration to be coordinated by them for the benefit of the people of the South-West.


Mimiko said the governors would work on a zonal rail-line and zonal power plant that would guarantee the economic development of the people.


The governor advised his colleagues to create policies that would alleviate poverty so that the states would become global economic players in the future.


Mimiko also said the governors should allow their people to feel the effect of governance so as not to have a sense of disconnect between government and the people who voted them into power.


He regretted the fall in the standard of education among the students of the zone, and advised that they should focus on education, health and information and communication and technology among others.


He said, “We must think of economic collaborative effort. We must have a Yoruba rail-line, generate electricity and create markets for investors. We must resume the path to development.”


Mimiko urged his colleagues to utilise every opportunity available to them to push for the practise of true federalism where the states would be able to use resources at their disposal for the benefit of the people.


He said the current quasi-unitary system of government being practised by the Federal Government was not in the best interest of the country.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012073133514

ACN & Labor Keep it up!

Eyin Omo Ogun ati Oyo, please join the train. Letz integrate the yoruba states and synergize.

Ekiti and Ondo have always been close.

We should end all these ethnic super power. Tells you much about how different Nigerians are. Why cant the whole country meet on a common strategy?

Can we stop deluding ourselves? Cant our Yoruba elders meet on a common strategy to break up this forced marriage?

I read a current news about Ekiti state exploring it's minerals/ resources and building the state for tourism. . . . nice way to start.

what is the meaning of this conspiracy

i love the yorubas but they are just too conserved

^-- Haha

No conspiracy man, just trying to fix our economies. Best way to do this is to cooperate and have a common vision. For example, it will be more cost effective to do a power project if you have 3 states collaborating than just one. Get to take advantage of economies of scale.

Of course, it would be better if we could do this all across Nigeria at once. But unfortunately, politics always gets in the way. . .