The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland and national leader of the Odua People's Congress (OPC), Iba Gani Adams, has criticized President Bola Tinubu over his recent comments during a visit to Jos, where he promised to install CCTV cameras in the Plateau State capital. Adams argued that the president should instead install the surveillance gadgets across the entire country.
Adams made this statement during his address at the annual Oke-Ibadan Festival, held at Mapo Hall in Ibadan. The Oke-Ibadan festival is a yearly celebration that honors the founding of Ibadan, the Aboke, and the people of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
“We are surprised that President Bola Tinubu during his recent visit to Jos, was just saying that CCTV gadgets will be fixed in Jos. But I dare say CCTV ought to be installed across the entire country,” Adams said. “One of the key secrets of good security in the Western world is the CCTV that is installed in strategic locations, even in some streets.”
He pointed out that adequate and regular power supply is a key reason advanced countries can operate CCTV round the clock. “Without adequate and regular power supply, there is no life,” he emphasized.
“It is funny how Nigeria can be talking about 5000 megawatts at this stage of our development as a nation. South Africa, with whom we are competing as the giant of Africa, has an installed electricity generation capacity of approximately 58,000 megawatts. Though the actual, reliable operational capacity is significantly lower, often dropping below 30,000 megawatts due to maintenance and plant breakdowns, primarily from coal. ESKOM, the official South African utility company, supplies about 90% of this power.”
He also cited Egypt as Africa’s largest electricity producer, with a total generation capacity exceeding 60,000 megawatts, and noted that Egypt continues to increase its power production with major solar and wind projects.
“Nigeria must take a cue from other forward-thinking nations and resolve the power challenge decisively because it is the main obstacle to the wholesome development of our economy,” he charged.
Adams advised the federal government to leave the issue of electricity to the states and give them a timeframe of one or two years to produce their own electricity, emphasizing that without stable electricity, there cannot be a viable economy.
Speaking on the rise in petrol prices occasioned by the Israel-America-Iran war, Adams blamed the federal government for its failure to maintain a petrol reserve that could cater for the needs of Nigerians during such periods. “We could have gone into our reserve. Venezuela and the United States have reserves that can serve their country for 30 years. It’s about good governance, having a vision as a government. We should prepare for the next 50 years. Why can’t we reserve 500,000 barrels out of the 2.5 million barrels produced daily in case of issues like this? It’s a lesson for Nigeria, and we should learn to prepare for evil days,” he said.
He emphasized the need to adopt people-oriented policies that prioritize the welfare and livelihoods of the Nigerian populace, urging the government to come up with policies “focused on inclusive growth by ensuring that economic benefits reach the broader population rather than a small elite.”
“Nigeria can build a more stable and inclusive economy capable of withstanding external shocks and improving the welfare of its citizens,” he added.
The OPC leader charged the Oyo State government to make the Oke-Ibadan festival a tourist destination by raising awareness about its importance. He also called on the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, to “begin to organise a befitting festival, and not just leaving it to those priests behind the festival.”
He urged all state governments across the Southwest region to continue to promote and sponsor various festivals in their states to boost tourism and economic potential. “This is a clarion call to the governments to lead the initiative to promote Yoruba identity and culture,” he said.
Adams also urged Ibadan indigenes to cultivate a positive attitude toward the development of the city and its environment.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Pension Board, Hon. Akeem Ige, who represented the state governor, Seyi Makinde, at the occasion, restated the state government’s commitment to preserving and uplifting its cultural identity. He pledged the support of the state government toward sustaining and enhancing the Oke-Ibadan festival to an enviable status.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Oyo State Coordinator of the OPC, Chief Musibau Lawal, said efforts are ongoing to upgrade the annual festival to UNESCO standards, such as the Sango festival.
