Onigbinde Calls for Institutionalized Citizen-Government Dialogue in Southwest Governance
By Exponent News| October 30, 2025
In a stirring address that drew applause from delegates, civic advocate and governance reformer Akin Onigbinde has called for the institutionalization of citizen participation and accountability in governance across Nigeria’s southwest region, describing the current model of open engagement as “unprecedented” and “a potential turning point in how the government engages with its people.” Hon. Onigbinde who was represented by Ademola Babatunde Folarin- Secretary General Afenifere while speaking at a regional governance summit on Thursday, Onigbinde commended the courage of government officials who have opened their policies and programs to direct public scrutiny, urging that such transparency must not be treated as a one-time event.
“The greatest threat to this initiative is not opposition,” Onigbide warned. “The real danger lies in treating it as a one-off event, rather than the beginning of an enduring initiative to promote good governance in Nigeria.”
He called on all stakeholders to ensure that citizen engagement becomes a statutory fixture in the governance calendar, emphasizing that the summit must produce measurable outcomes, not just rhetoric.
Over the next two days, the summit will feature dialogues between government officials and citizens across six thematic areas — including fiscal reforms, security, economic development, and human capital growth. Participants are expected to present evidence-based reports and commit to actionable policy reforms.
In a lighthearted moment, Onigbinde addressed one of the dignitaries directly, saying, “Ayo Ladigbolu you are the prime minister here at the moment — I urge you to participate actively and speak truth to power respectfully.”
Reaffirming his belief in the collective vision of the region, Onigbinde concluded with a call for unity and integrity in leadership:
“Together, we can build a southwest region that is not just prosperous, but just; not only developed, but humane; and not merely democratic in name, but truly participatory in practice.”
As the summit progresses, stakeholders and citizens alike will watch closely to see whether this renewed spirit of accountability marks the beginning of a new era of participatory governance in the southwest.
