Bolaji O. Akinyemi, Fadahunsi Rally Patriots For Restructuring, One Nigeria – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

Come Thursday, January 23, 2025, hundreds of Ni­gerians are scheduled to meet under the auspices of ART at the Jesus Evangelical Assembly, at 2 Adegbeyeni Street, Off Allen Avenue, Behind Alade Market, Allen Roundabout, Ikeja Lagos.

Speaking with Sunday Inde­pendent on the event, the Conve­ner, Apostle Bola O Akinyemi, stated that after a successful ChristMax in Bokkos Local Government to encourage Christians who were victims of 2023 Christmas horrific attack, he is back to his base in Lagos to convene the annual Apostolic Round Table (ART).

According to Dr Akinyemi, the multi-ethnic territory homelands structure that ex­isted pre-colonialism must be reverted to if Nigeria must re­main as one.

He maintained that the homelands, according to him, were integrated into one United Nigeria by the colonial masters to have their interest protected.

Akinyemi stressed that the seed sown by the colonial mas­ters was ferterised for growth by ‘We the people’ pronounce­ment in the 1963 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Ni­geria.

“This of course, he stressed, has been stifled by the military incursions into the civil gov­ernment over the years. While thanking God for return to de­mocracy in 1999 and for 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, he emphatically stated that noth­ing but a return to true feder­alism by the indigenous ethnic groups can nurture Nigeria’s multi-ethnic nation to unity.

According to him, that deci­sion must be taken now, adding that its postponement beyond 2025 may spell doom for the na­tion. According to him, time to act on restructuring is now!

Sharing from his wide con­sultation on the State-of-the- Nation during the annual Ilase Ijesa where palliative packs containing rice, beans, garri, Ankara and money to sew the cloth were shared to over 500 widows and others, Akinyemi brought to bear the thought of Senator representing Osun East, who according to him, frowns at playing politics with everything, including the lives of our people.

Quoting, Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, “It is un­fortunate that what the unfor­tunate incident at the Islamic High School in Ibadan offered us as a nation was not allowed to see the light of the day. How glorious it would have been to see a Christmas palliative partnership between Oriyomi Hamzat, a Muslim and Queen Naomi a Christian, succeed at Islamic High School.

Akinyemi stressed: “The take away for the Distinguished Sen­ator is the need to play down on politicising religion and embrace unity as a memorial for those who lost their lives in Ibadan and other places during the Yuletide season.

“Fadahunsi promised to champion a platform of a Chris­tian Legislative Revolution Network to push for a United Nigeria by engaging with their Muslims counterparts at the National Assembly.

Akinyemi confirmed the theme of ART 2025 as ‘Stew­ards Of Nations Season 2: One Nigeria? The keynote speaker, he said, would be Bishop Dr Joseph Ighalo Edoro, the Pa­tron, Indigenous Group for Re­structuring of Project Victory Call Initiative.

The Round Table is the peak of ART. Up for discussion is: Nurturing the Seed of a United Nigeria. He said the anchor at the Round Table is the sensation­al voice on the Mainland FM, Babalola Sage, faces at the event will include, Rev Kenneth Wiper, SA Religion, Abia State, Ololade David, a prophet and advocate of Yoruba tradition, language and cultural heritage. Jonathan Sunday Akuns, Galadima Daffo and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspi­rant in Plateau State and iWalk Ambassador 2024, Dr Polycarp Gankon, 2019 governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ka­duna State, Engr Daniel Kadzai, former YOWICAN President will grace ART 2025.

Also expected at ART is His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, the Ex­ecutive Governor of Abia State. The Chairman of ART 2025 is Ambassador Steven Bangoji, President, Congress Of North­ern Nigerian Christians.

When asked about the po­litical party ART will be root­ing for come 2027. Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi, said as an Apostle and a Nation Builder, politics is not his game. According to him, “Politics is about interest, sides taking and camp forming, caucus where necessary within a camp. There is no end to divi­sion once politics is the game. 70% of issues around our divi­sion are politically driven. Na­tion Building, however, is be­yond politics. Unity is the goal, truth the message, objectivity the means. This is our pursuit as a group.

“Due respect to all leaders, respectable or not, we exercise that courtesy. We look forward to a productive ART 2025, we may disagree. But we all must keep one thing in mind: the place of agreement is the place of power!

When asked, if ART has no interest to encourage their par­ticipation in politics, Akinyemi said, “We can’t play politics like politicians, as a nation builder, to play politics, you have to de­fine your interest, join a polit­ical party or group where your interest is listed as their front line pursuit. If your interest is not listed on any political par­ty or group Create a group to champion your interest, reach out to like-minded individuals to be part of your group. Lead your group to engage with po­litical parties or groups willing to accommodate your interest. State your terms and condi­tions to be part of their group or political party. If the offer is right, seal the deal.

Dr Akinyemi informed: “At Apostolic Round Table, our in­terest is a secular state where freedom of religion is non-ne­gotiable. A same faith ticket is a capital NO!”

He continued: “We are Na­tion Builders without any pos­sible consideration to compro­mise One United Nigeria. As Stewards Of Nations, Servant leadership is our choice for public stewardship.

ART 2025 is the activation of our interests as Nation Builders to see a united, better and greater Nigeria. 2027 is a bridge, though the journey to it is beginning, when we get there, will cross it!

The Host of ART 2025 is Rev. David Esosa Ize-Iyamu, a Pastor and former presidential candi­date of BNPP in 2019.

Expected to analyse and deepen the discussion on the Theme are Think-Tanks in the forefront of advocacy for restructuring Nigeria; astute in politics and social re-engi­neering as well as Statecraft; of individuals and Groups alike, leading prominent individuals are Dele Farotimi and Omoyele Sowore.

Groups participating at ART Round Table are; Movement for National Reformation, founded by a leading founding figure among the fathers of the na­tion, Chief Anthony Enahoro and presently being led by His Excellency, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, former Governor of old Kwara State, The Rebirth Group, led by Deacon Owolabi Oladejo, and the Patriots on whose membership you have the likes of Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Kalu Idika Kalu, led by His Excellency, Chief Emeka Anya­oku, Olawale Okunniyi, the Sec­retary already assured us of the Patriots participation. Democ­racy is deepened by Dialogues, Debates and Discussions.

Restructuring is not a second option to a united, better and greater Nigeria, it is the only option. I encourage all Nigeri­ans at home and the diaspora to come lend their voices to the nurturing of our democra­cy for the benefits of all ethnic nationalities.