Ibadan, – Three academics on Thursday at a lecture in Ibadan urged the Federal Government to study and emulate the political system of Ibadanland.
The three are Dr Yemi Farombi, Prof. Aderemi Raji-Oyelade and Dr Saheed Ige.
They spoke at a symposium organised as part of activities to mark the first coronation anniversary of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the symposium had the topic “Ibadan: treasure of the last empire and the challenges of urban development”.
The lecture was delivered by Prof. Aderemi Raji-Oyelade at the Trenchard Hall of University of Ibadan, with Farombi and Ige among the discussants.
They all agreed that the Federal Government needed to study the political system of Ibadan as a guide in resolving various challenges in the land.
“Ibadan won its various wars during its formative years and today has become a giant and formidable metropolis with the most stable traditional ascension system as a result of its political system,” Ige said.
He gave kudos to the ancient metropolis for being the saviour of the Yoruba race, recalling the gallantry of Ibadan army during the war in the late 19th century.
Ige pointed out that it was a war which permanently put an end to the invading expedition of the marauders.
He lamented the dearth of commensurate development with the size, history and population of Ibadanland.
“The sons and daughters of the land have to focus on everything that can bring about development to the metropolis.
“The height attained today in all spheres of life can not be separated from the individual and personal efforts of some Ibadan indigenes,”Iheaka noted.
He also lamented the growing population of out-of-school children in Ibadan, noting that the current situation of people not caring for one another portends some danger for the future.
Ige suggested that the education need of every child should be a collective responsibility of all, as it was in the past.
On his part, Farombi, a former Ambassador of Nigeria to the Philippines, stated emphatically that “there can’t be a beautiful Ibadan under the present Nigerian structure”.
He gave kudos to the founding fathers of the ancient metropolis and the former political leaders.
“They, out of genuine commitment to service, made sure that Ibadan of today is the educational, cultural and art centre of Nigeria.”
Farombi charged the sons and daughters of Ibadanland to work on how to economically reposition Ibadan and ensure business thrives so as to support the huge population.
“Ibadan is a home to every Yoruba person, which is why hardly will anybody of note in all the adjoining states not have residence in the Oyo State capital”.
NAN reports that well-meaning sons and daughters of Ibadanland both at home and in the diaspora witnessed the symposium to honour the 42nd Olubadan, Oba Balogun.(NAN)