The Egba Economic Summit has called on the federal government of Nigeria to create a free a free trade zone in Egba land.
The President of the group, Chief Shina Luwoye said this at an engagement session with legislative candidates of Ogun Central Senatorial District of the state on Tuesday in Abeokuta.
He decried the neglect of Egba land by various governments on economic projects for development of the zone.
“There’s a need for a free trade zone in Egba land. I must point out that all the economic projects that have been embarked on by various governments in Ogun state have always been sited elsewhere.
“The airport was taken away from us; a trade zone in the western part of Egba land. What do we have to get as economic stimulators.
“Therefore as Egba economic summit, we use this forum to impress it on the federal government of Nigeria and all concerned agencies that we want a free trade zone in Egba land,” he said.
Luwoye, a former president of PENGASSAN, noted that “engagement is one of the legs of the tripod on which Egba Economic Summit stands; the two others being advocacy and affirmative action”.
He maintained that engagement forum which gives opportunity to Egba people to listen to candidates of each of the political parties and appraise them of how prepared and competent for the tasks ahead.
He added that the Egba Economic Summit seeks to enlighten the citizenry and re-orientate them from tokenism and monetary demands which largely short-changes everyone.
Reeling out the history of Egba, Luwoye recalled that Egba United government was a robust and effective government with balance of power and governance fairly distributed among all in various home steads.
He added: “The quality and per capital access to public infrastructure in Egbaland of that time was nowhere in West Africa. People felt the impact of good governance”.
“We are sophisticated people who should be more concerned about benefits for the society and greatest number of citizens more than selves,” he added.
He charged the candidates who eventually wins to effectively bridge the yawning gap between elected lawmakers and their constituents at the 10th Assembly.
This, according to him, can be done by having periodic meetings that would update citizens on proceedings with a view to get their buy-in and concurrence on issues.
“We should raise the bar of governance by asking for life enhancing projects that will catalyse speedy development of the country and Egba land in particular.
“There are much more areas that we can use the legislative and lobbying prowess, that is our pedigree, to secure our future unborn generations and nation,” he said.
The candidates who spoke separately, promised to sponsor bill that would in turn become acts of parliament for the overall good of Ogun Central and Nigeria at large.
NAN reports that some of the candidates present at the event include Senatorial candidates from APC and Labour Party, House of Representatives candidate from APC and House of Assembly candidates from APC and PDP.
