A regional interactive political platform modelled after the Chatham House in the United Kingdom, the Odu’a House Initiative, has been unveiled in Ibadan, Oyo State, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The initiative, established by the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the South-West, is designed as a neutral and intellectually stimulating platform where political aspirants can present, defend and debate their programmes before the public.
The initiative is also expected to maintain a properly documented archive for scholars, journalists, policymakers and future generations.
The Regional President of the association and former Chairman of the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Demola Badejo, announced the initiative during a visit to the management of the Tribune Group in Ibadan.
Badejo was accompanied by the association’s Regional General Secretary, Pastor Mrs Adenike Olufadewa; Assistant General Secretary, Alhaji Adekunle Adegbite; and an Oyo State member, Adeyanju S.
Badejo said the initiative was conceived to improve the quality of political discourse, strengthen democratic accountability and provide citizens with an opportunity to interrogate the programmes and policies of those seeking elective office.
“We believe that such a platform can contribute significantly to improving the quality of political discourse and democratic accountability in our region,” he said.
He appealed to the Tribune Group to partner with the association on the initiative, adding that he had visited Chatham House in the UK the previous week to explore possibilities for technical support and guidance.
The association is also engaging the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) as part of efforts to involve broadcast media in the project.
Badejo described the media as a strategic partner in development, public enlightenment, advocacy and democratic accountability rather than merely an avenue for reporting government and other institutional activities.
He said credible media platforms were essential for communicating policies and development programmes and ensuring that the public understood their objectives and potential impact.
Why Tribune Was Chosen
Badejo said the choice of the Tribune Group as a prospective partner was rooted in the newspaper organisation’s history and its contribution to political and social development in the South-West.
He noted that the Tribune was established in Ibadan in 1949 by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and had remained an important voice in the political, social, economic, educational and cultural development of the region and Nigeria.
“In many respects, therefore, the Tribune is more than a newspaper organisation. It is a living archive of our regional and national journey,” he said.
Badejo said the association’s members, having spent decades in public administration and governance, possessed institutional knowledge and experience that could complement the media organisation’s strength in communication.
He said the collaboration could contribute to addressing challenges facing the region, including infrastructure deficits, economic integration, food security, industrialisation, youth unemployment, education, healthcare, tourism and cultural development.
The regional president stressed that retirement should not mark the end of public service, saying retired public servants could deploy their experience, networks and institutional memory towards the continued development of the region.
Association Presents Southwest Development Plan
Badejo also disclosed that the association had published a book titled Proposed Plan of Action for the Economic Development of the South-West Region.
He said the publication, which was launched by the six governors of the South-West, represented the association’s contribution to discussions on how the region could better harness its human, agricultural, industrial, economic, cultural and tourism potential.
A copy of the publication was presented to the Tribune management during the visit.
According to Badejo, the central philosophy of the document is that the six South-West states can achieve more through greater cooperation, regional integration and coordinated development.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Tribune management, the General Editor, Dr Taiwo Adisa, commended the association for continuing to contribute to society after retirement.
Adisa also welcomed the proposed partnership with the South West Development Commission (SWDC), Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and Odu’a Investment Company Limited.
He described Odu’a Investment as an offshoot of the vision and programmes associated with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Adisa assured the association that Tribune was willing to partner with it on its programmes, particularly the Odu’a House Initiative.
Odu’a Unveils Regional Investment Plans
Earlier, during a strategic meeting at Cocoa House in Ibadan, Badejo had pledged to collaborate with the SWDC, DAWN Commission and Odu’a Investment Company to streamline development programmes across the region.
He said the three institutions provided important platforms for coordinated intervention, infrastructure development and other regional initiatives.
The Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Yinusa Abdulrahman, said the company had significant assets but had previously suffered from poor performance before the current management took over.
Abdulrahman said the company had rehabilitated and expanded Premier Hotel in Ibadan from about 86 rooms to 108 rooms, while the Lagos Airport Hotel in Ikeja was undergoing an upgrade aimed at transforming it into an international tourist destination with a modern shopping mall, hospital and other facilities.
He added that Odu’a was exploring the strategic location of the Lekki Deep Seaport to revive the Epe Plywood Industry and establish a telephone manufacturing factory and vehicle assembly plant for local and international markets.
On the company’s vision for the six South-West states, Abdulrahman said, “Our plan is to go very far.”
