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SOUTHWEST RISING – WHY GOVERNOR AIYEDATIWA’S LEADERSHIP MATTERS NOW MORE THAN EVER
As a daughter of Ondo State and privileged member of the Aiyedatiwa administration, I witnessed firsthand the unfolding of history in Akure on Tuesday, a day that firmly placed Ondo State at the political and economic heart of Southwest Nigeria.
Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa didn’t just host leaders of the region; he convened a movement.
The Southwest Leaders’ Summit was more than an event. It was a statement, a declaration that the Southwest is ready to reclaim its leadership mantle through deeper integration, shared vision, and proactive governance.
With the full complement of Southwest governors in attendance: Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Seyi Makinde, Dapo Abiodun, Ademola Adeleke, and Biodun Oyebanji and a rich mix of policymakers, innovators, monarchs, and cultural leaders, the stage was set for transformative dialogue under the theme “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future.”
What emerged from the summit is now a living blueprint: the Akure Declaration.
This declaration is not just a document. It is a pact among brothers and sisters bound by geography, culture, and purpose, a commitment to improve governance, build infrastructure that links us, create shared security approaches, and champion a regional economy where innovation thrives and trade flows freely.
As Governor Aiyedatiwa rightly emphasized in his keynote, “Our integration must reflect in trade, infrastructure, education, and digital economy. We must speak with one voice and act in unity.” His leadership is anchored not just in words, but in action and the Akure Declaration proves it.
Let me highlight what this means for Ondo State and why I believe it marks the beginning of a new era:
The collective endorsement of the Ilaje Deep Sea Port project and advocacy for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway are game-changers. Ondo is positioning itself as the future industrial hub of the Gulf of Guinea. This is not projection – it’s planning in motion.
The declaration puts critical focus on the dualization of the Akure–Ado-Ekiti Road and continued rural access upgrades under RAAMP. Ondo is not just being connected, it is becoming a corridor of commerce and innovation.
Strengthening the Amotekun Corps through shared intelligence and joint response mechanisms reaffirms the State’s role in safeguarding borders, waterways, and rural communities. Our people must live and trade in peace, this summit gave regional weight to that cause.
The Akure Declaration prioritizes knowledge exchange and cross-institutional partnerships, which is a boost for our tech-driven educational ecosystem. From FUTA to Elizade University, Ondo’s young minds now stand to benefit from a wider, more collaborative innovation environment.
That is why this summit is not just part of the national discourse, it’s directing it. And as we align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and prepare for the political dynamics of 2027, Ondo State is not playing catch-up, we are setting the pace.
The words of leaders like Governor Sanwo-Olu on smart governance, Governor Makinde on agro-integration, and on federal synergy all point to one reality: the Southwest knows where it is going, and Ondo is among those charting the path.
Traditional rulers stood firm on moral and cultural unity, while elder statesmen from Afenifere applauded the resolve and timeliness of this regional pact. For us in Ondo, it was a moment of pride but even more, a moment of responsibility.
Governor Aiyedatiwa said it clearly, “The Akure Declaration is not just a communiqué. It is our pledge to safeguard democracy, promote integration, and secure opportunities for our people.”
As someone serving this administration, I can boldly say: the Governor is not just speaking, he is leading. And with this summit, he has demonstrated that Ondo State will not sit at the backseat of Southwest progress.
We are at the forefront with resolve, capacity, and purpose.
The Southwest is rising again and Ondo State, under Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is helping to build that future.
Hon. Kikelomo Isijola, Special Assistant to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Digital Media
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