Ondo state Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, was the distinguished Lecturer at the 2nd Distinguished Personality Lecture of the Department of political science and Diplomatic Studies, BOWEN University, Iwo, Osun State. The event which was held at the Chris Alabi Lecture Theater. Professor Banji Akintoye, President, Oodua Foundation (USA) is the Distinguished Chairman of the event.

FULL LECTURE

"Some people only want to sit on the wealth of the people. They call themselves their leaders. Leader of who? Our concern should be about the development of our people. Ondo state will reject such leader."

The most important issue which must be of concern to us now is development through the inherited political system. The colonial experience was designed to exploit the local populace. Infrastructural development was meant for effective dispossession of the natives. Capacity building was moderate and efficiently structured to produce servile subjects."
"If popular participation translates into decision making, the people will, certainly, choose a much more impactful mode of sustenance.

"If the traditional societies which existed before colonialism were self-sufficient as autonomous entities under kingdoms and chiefdoms, why are the people perpetually helpless now that they are supposed to be the ones in charge of their own affairs?
"The inherited structure was left intact at independence in 1960"

"The adoption of the Parliamentary system was considered inappropriate for a country with the size and complexity of Nigeria. The colonial structure simply ensured that the alienation between the ruling class and the people was almost complete. Local leaders had replaced the colonial overlords. Their stranglehold on the people and the resources of the nascent nation-state was suffocating."