Why the Yorùbá Are Still Leading Nigeria: Leadership, Unity, and Proactive Governance
On Monday, November 24, 2025, a pivotal emergency meeting took place in Ibadan, Oyo State, where all six Southwest governors convened at the Oyo State Government Secretariat to deliberate on Nigeria’s escalating security crisis. What unfolded was not just a routine gathering — it was a powerful demonstration of unity, foresight, and regional ownership that, to many observers, exemplifies why the Yorùbá remain ahead in Nigeria.
A Strategic Security Pivot: What Happened
The Southwest Governors’ Forum — comprising the governors of Lagos (Babajide Sanwo-Olu), Oyo (Seyi Makinde), Ogun (Dapo Abiodun), Osun (Ademola Adeleke, represented by his deputy), Ondo (Lucky Aiyedatiwa), and Ekiti (Biodun Oyebanji) — convened in a closed-door session primarily to address the mounting insecurity challenges across Nigeria, particularly as they impact their region.
At the core of their outcome was a resolution to establish a South West Regional Security Trust Fund (SWSF), to be managed under the DAWN Commission and supervised by the Special Advisers on Security from all six states.
This fund is not symbolic — it is designed to underwrite joint security operations, intelligence-sharing, and rapid response across the region, reflecting a mature, coordinated, and institutional approach to security.
Digital Intelligence, Forest Guards & Border Control
Beyond funding, the governors committed to building a live, digital intelligence-sharing platform to exchange real-time threat notifications, cargo and traveller alerts, incident logs, and to coordinate rapid inter-state security response.
They also expressed serious concern about the use of forest belts as havens for criminal elements. To counter this, they are calling on the Federal Government to deploy Forest Guards across their states, with each state providing personnel.
On migration, they sounded an alarm: unregulated interstate migration poses a growing security risk. They want stricter border monitoring, improved data collection, and better coordination with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to prevent infiltration by criminal elements.
Illegal mining, too, featured prominently in their discussion — they warned of its dangerous intersection with crime, environmental degradation, and public health. Their call: stricter licensing, stronger enforcement, and sanctions for those abusing mining to mask criminal operations.
State Police: A Renewed, Urgent Demand
Perhaps the most politically charged resolution is their renewed call for state police. In the communiqué, the governors declared that "the time is now — and it can no longer be delayed."
This demand is not new, but the urgency has intensified in light of contemporary security patterns. The governors argue that a decentralized policing structure could bolster effectiveness, improve responsiveness, and ensure that security agencies are closer to the people they serve.
Why This Matters: Leadership Over Geography
Here’s where the broader relevance lies — and why this moment is so telling about Yorùbá leadership:
1. Proactive Governance: Unlike regions that react to insecurity only after a crisis peaks, the Southwest moved swiftly, without waiting for federal rescue. That level of initiative underscores mature regional governance, rooted in self-reliance and solidarity.
2. Institutional Vision: The creation of a fund under DAWN, and a structured intelligence-sharing platform, shows they are thinking long-term. This isn’t ad hoc; it’s an institutional framework they intend to sustain.
3. Unity Across Boundaries: The six governors didn’t allow partisan divides or state interests to derail collective action. Their collaboration under DAWN demonstrates how shared identity and common purpose can drive real policy outcomes.
4. Balancing Local and Federal Dynamics: Their call for state police is not a call for separation, but for reform — a demand to strengthen the federal structure by making security more localized and accountable.
5. Protection of Regional Assets: By targeting illegal mining and reclaiming forests, they are not just safeguarding security — they are protecting the region’s ecological future and the lives of its people.
The Broader Narrative: Why the Yorùbá “Are Ahead”
When people talk about how the Yorùbá continue to lead in Nigeria — economically, politically, and socially — much of the credit is often given to Lagos, its port, or its commercial power. But this recent security summit in Ibadan reveals a more profound reason: Leadership rooted in foresight, unity, and action.
The economic contributions of the Southwest are indeed significant, but they are complemented by political maturity: their leaders are not content to benefit from the status quo; they want to build systems that safeguard their people.
In security discourse, the Southwest is punching above its weight: it is not just responding, but architecting its own protection mechanisms.
Their approach also illustrates a sense of regional ownership: the governors are not simply pleading for federal help — they are mobilizing their own resources, building capacity, and demanding structural reform.
Why This Moment Is a Turning Point
This meeting could mark a turning point in how sub-national governance in Nigeria engages with security. If implemented well, the SWSF and digital intelligence platform could become a model for other regions. It could also accelerate the national conversation on state policing, decentralization, and regional security architecture.
Moreover, this is not just a governance story — it’s a cultural story. It is about the Yorùbá tradition of communal solidarity, strategic planning, and collective responsibility. In a country often fractured by ethnic or regional divides, this show of unity is a powerful narrative: the Yorùbá are not just surviving; they are steering.
Risks and Challenges Ahead
To be sure, the initiative is not without risks:
Funding and Transparency: Creating a security fund is one thing — managing it effectively, transparently, and without misuse is another. The governors will need to build public trust in how money is raised, allocated, and audited.
Implementation Capacity: Digital platforms, forest guards, and intelligence sharing require adequate technical capacity. The states must invest in training, technology, and personnel to make these systems effective.
Federal Pushback: The call for state police could face resistance at the national level, especially given the historical sensitivity around security reform and constitutional policing debates.
Interstate Coordination: Even among the six states, coordination will be complex. Rapid response and threat-sharing require not just political will, but logistical arrangements, clear protocols, and constant communication.
Conclusion: Leadership, Not Geography, Is the Edge
The emergency meeting of the Southwest governors on November 24, 2025, in Ibadan, is more than a reactive response to insecurity. It is a manifestation of forward-looking leadership, regional unity, and strategic self-determination. It crystallizes why the Yorùbá — despite the common narrative crediting Lagos or ports — continue to be ahead in Nigeria: not because of geography alone, but because of governance rooted in vision, collaboration, and regional pride.
If this initiative succeeds, it could spark a new paradigm: regionally driven security architecture, stronger federalism, and a model of governance that other Nigerian zones may look to emulate.
0 Comments