By CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO
LAGOS — GOVERNORS of the South-West geo-political zone and eminent persons from the area, yesterday, took a dispassionate view on the state of socio-economic and political development in the area and lamented that the zone had fallen below the template set by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

At the official presentation of a Strategy Roadmap for the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN, at Lagos City Hall, leaders of the zone said it was time for well-meaning Southwesterners to join forces and re-enact the winning policies of yore, which saw the defunct Western Region setting the pace in terms of development in the country.

Specifically, the leaders, who pledged to cooperate, harped on the need to pursue a common agenda and regional integration on education, transportation, economy and infrastructure among others.

Drawn from all parts of South-West and Yoruba-speaking areas of Kogi and Kwara states, the leaders included all the six governors of the region, with the exception of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), who sent a representative.

Others were Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, retired Generals Adeyinka Adebayo and Alani Akinrinade, Dr. Doyin Salami, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, Chief Bisi Akande, Rev Tunji Adebiyi, Mr Fola Adeola, Wale Oshun and Dipo Famakinwa.

Governors at the historic gathering on a day that  Chief Awolowo would have turned 103 years if he were alive, were Mr. Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Mr. Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Senator Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo). Mimiko was represented by one of his commissioners, Sola Etisemi

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