The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Nigeria Conference of Speakers, Adebo Ogundoyin, has squarely laid the blame for Nigeria’s multifaceted challenges at the feet of the political establishment, asserting that “political interests” have consistently overridden national interests.

Ogundoyin made this assertion on Tuesday while featuring on a live broadcast of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) titled “Guest of the Month,” in Ibadan. His remarks come amidst ongoing national conversations about governance and the path to sustainable development.

“Nigeria’s challenges are not accidental. They are largely the result of political interests overriding national interests,” Ogundoyin declared. He further criticized the nation’s inability to adopt a consistent approach to governance, lamenting that “every new administration tosses away the programmes of its predecessor. This lack of continuity is a major obstacle to sustainable development.” In contrast, he commended Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration in Oyo State for its impactful and consistent approach.

The Speaker also decried the alarming insecurity plaguing the nation, calling the loss of over 700,000 lives due to violent conflict and criminality a “national tragedy.” He urged the Federal Government to take urgent action, advocating for a restructuring of the federal system to empower sub-national entities in internal security. “The Federal structure is overstretched. Sub-nationals must be empowered to play a critical role in internal security,” he argued, dismissing fears about governors misusing state police by drawing parallels with multi-layer policing in the United States.

Ogundoyin also queried the government’s failure to publish the names of those allegedly sponsoring insecurity, suggesting that “political interests are shielding perpetrators.”

On the controversial proposal for a single six-year term for executives, floated by Governor Seyi Makinde, Ogundoyin expressed full support. “Governor Makinde doesn’t just speak, he speaks with intentionality. A six-year single term will eliminate re-election distractions and allow for long-term planning,” he opined. He also highlighted that the Oyo Assembly had voted in favour of Local Governments’ autonomy during the last constitutional amendment.

Concluding his address, the Speaker called on Nigerians to be more deliberate and active in their political choices. “Leaders don’t fall from the sky. If we want better governance, citizens must wake up and take active roles in shaping their future,” he charged, emphasizing the collective responsibility of the citizenry in charting Nigeria’s course.