“Tinubu will only be there till 2031 — South-West must act now” — Olanipekun

Wole Olanipekun, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, have called on political leaders and governors in the South-West to use President Bola Tinubu’s time in office to fast-track infrastructure, industrialisation and economic growth across the region.

They spoke on Monday in Akure during a public lecture marking the 50th anniversary of Ondo State’s creation.

Olanipekun said the current political alignment, with a South-West president, presents a limited window for coordinated regional advancement. He urged leaders to set aside partisan interests and work together on a common development agenda.

“Tinubu will not be there forever. He will only be there till 2031,” he said, stressing the need for unity, cohesion and deliberate planning.

He advised the region to engage the federal government collectively on priorities such as rail transport, port infrastructure, agriculture and the development of mineral resources.

“If we fail to organise ourselves now, we may not have another opportunity of this magnitude,” he added.

Oyedele, in his remarks, reflected on Ondo State’s founding values of education, integrity and collective progress. He said these priorities have helped the state record measurable outcomes despite limited financial resources.

Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics, he noted that Ondo has the lowest proportion of residents living in multidimensional poverty among Nigerian states.

“This is not because we are the richest state, but because we invested in what truly matters — education, health and dignity,” Oyedele said.

He outlined a long-term development framework for the state, described as “Agenda 2076,” focused on industrialisation, technology, security, youth development and strong institutions.

“The next 50 years must be about value creation, not dependence on federation allocations,” he said.

“Ondo State must move from cocoa to chocolate, from crude extraction to industrial processing, and from subsistence farming to agrod-industrial production.”