Adeniran
As political posters begin to creep back onto walls across Ibadan, Abeokuta, Akure, Ikeja and other capitals of Yorubaland, a familiar restlessness is stirring. The season of promises is here again, and with it, the Yoruba for Democratic Values, YDV, is setting down a marker it says aspirants ignore at their peril.
In a statement signed by its Convener, Debo Adeniran, the socio-political group did not mince words. Seeking office in 2027, YDV said, must not be reduced to a chase for power and patronage. It is, in their words, a solemn commitment to serve, to protect, and to place the interests, welfare, security, dignity and aspirations of the Yoruba people at the very heart of governance.
For YDV, the starting point is the ordinary citizen who is too often invited to vote and then forgotten until the next cycle.
The group insists that participatory governance cannot remain a campaign slogan. It must be built into the machinery of government through verifiable tools: questionnaires that are actually read, town hall meetings that are not stage-managed, focus group discussions, constituency consultations, and public hearings whose reports, recommendations and responses are published for all to see.
Adeniran warned specifically against “teleguided” gatherings designed only to create the illusion of listening. According to YDV, if the people’s voice is real, it must be documented.
That voice, the group argues, must also shape the money. Annual budgets and appropriation bills, YDV said, should no longer be drafted in isolation and imposed from above. Citizens across constituencies must be consulted to name their most pressing needs, and those priorities must visibly inform what government builds.
The test of accountability, in YDV’s view, is simple and direct. Did we ask for this? Was it in the budget? Was it done? How much was spent? What changed in our community as a result? Without answers to those questions, democracy remains incomplete.
The responsibility, YDV adds, does not end with the executive. Elected representatives must reclaim their role as the bridge between government and the people. Citizens should not have to wait on political appointees to hear what government is doing. Those who carry the people’s mandate must report back regularly, explain policies, present progress reports, and return to ask for feedback.
Government itself, YDV said, must also stay visible between elections through the mass media, social media, town halls and other accessible platforms. Governance cannot go silent for four years.
Beyond process, YDV also spoke to identity and security. The group urged leaders across Yorubaland to be vigilant in protecting the territorial integrity, cultural heritage, economic interests and legitimate rights of the Yoruba people.
While noting that the Yoruba are historically not expansionist, Adeniran said this must not be mistaken for passivity in the face of unlawful incursions or encroachment.
No public official, he warned, should compromise any part of Yoruba territory through negligence, expediency, corruption or personal interest.
Yet even as it takes that firm position, YDV was clear that such protection must be pursued within the Nigerian Constitution, the rule of law, peaceful coexistence and respect for the rights of all Nigerians.
Security, for the group, is also about livelihood. A safe Yorubaland must be a productive one.
The group called on leaders to create an environment where people can live, work, trade, farm and invest without fear, and where entrepreneurs, farmers, traders, artisans and professionals can make sustainable profit.
When citizens are economically empowered, YDV reasoned, they can own homes, create jobs, and contribute more meaningfully to community development. Policies must therefore reduce insecurity, encourage investment, protect businesses and open opportunities for ordinary people to prosper.
To drive the point home, YDV has laid out questions every aspirant must be ready to answer before asking for votes. How will citizens participate in policymaking? How will constituency priorities influence the budget? How will representatives report back? How will consultations be made genuine and documented? How will projects be tracked and evaluated by the people? What concrete measures will protect lives, livelihoods and property? How will the legitimate interests and territorial integrity of Yorubaland be defended? And how will government create real opportunities for the average Yoruba citizen to thrive?
The message from Debo Adeniran and YDV is blunt. The era of appearing during campaigns and disappearing after elections must end.
Democracy, they said, is not just voting. It is continuous participation, accountability, inclusion and responsive governance. YDV says it will keep advocating for good governance, social justice and economic prosperity for all Nigerians, with particular attention to the legitimate interests and wellbeing of the Yoruba people.
In the end, the group’s position is simple. The people must not merely be voters. They must be participants, stakeholders and beneficiaries of governance. As 2027 approaches, that is the agenda YDV wants on every ballot and in every manifesto across Yorubaland.
