Afenifere Urges FG To Rejig Security Architecture, Shore Up Value Of Naira …Appoints Mimiko Reconciliation C’mtee Chair

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization, Afenifere on Tuesday at its Caucus meeting urged the Federal Government to rejig the security architecture of the country as well as working on how to shore up the value of the Naira which has been on the downward trend in recent times.

Afenifere according to the communique signed by its national publicity secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi also commended President Bola Tinubu for the decision taken so far in the petroleum sector.

To ensure proper coordination, Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti has also appointed a Reconciliatory Committee led by former Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko to bring all the groups together.

Below is the full text of the communique

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF AFENIFERE CAUCUS MEETING THAT HELD AT THE AKURE RESIDENCE OF THE LEADER, PA REUBEN FASORANTI, OFR, ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2024.

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization, Afenifere, on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, held a Caucus meeting in the Akure home of the Leader, Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, OFR.

After the opening prayer, The Leader, Pa Fasoranti, welcomed members to the meeting and wished everyone a successful deliberation.

In attendance at the meeting were representatives from various State Chapters of Afenifere.

At the instance of the Leader, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa OFR, presided over the meeting.

The Leader was in attendance throughout the duration of the meeting.

Deliberations

The meeting deliberated on issues affecting the organization, Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole. Among the issues discussed were the state of the nation with particular reference to the socio-economic and security situations in the country. Restructuring, which Afenifere has been advocating for a long time as a means of achieving a better lease of life for the people was also further emphasized.

i. The meeting heard reports of some kidnapping incidents that took place in the country in recent days. That of medical students that were kidnapped at Otukpo in Benue State, the invasion of villages between Oyo and Iseyin in Oyo State, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Ogun as well as the ones in Borno, Niger and Imo States were also mentioned.

ii. Various efforts of the federal government to revamp the economy were noted. In view of the pivotal roles that energy plays not only in an economy but even in the well-being of the people, the meeting deliberated on efforts being made in this respect with particular reference to electricity and fossil energy – petroleum products in particular. The meeting lauded President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for directing that crude oil be sold to local refineries in our local currency, the Naira – as this will ease the bottlenecks local refiners of fuel may be experiencing. Not only this, it also has the potential of brining the prices of these products down considerably.

iii. The meeting took note of the recent ruling by the Supreme Court on local government fiscal autonomy. Afenifere considered this a landmark judgement and enjoined various local governments in the country to ensure that their people derive maximum benefits from the resources coming to them both from the federal allocation as well as from those they generate internally.

iv. Participants at the meeting felt that the current hardships being experienced by consumers of petroleum products in the country are man-made.

v. Finally, the meeting took note of the shortage in the availability – as well as high costs – of food items in the country. After comprehensive deliberations, the meeting then resolved as follow:

1. The Security Architecture of the country needs to be overhauled to ensure that Nigerians are able to live and move about without the fear of being kidnapped or harassed in any way. Such reworking should include accelerating actions on the decision of the government to have state police.

There is also the urgent need to deploy modern technology more comprehensively into the efforts of combating banditry and terrorism. Doing so would check, if not totally stop, the incidences of kidnapping and sundry banditry now ravaging the land. Afenifere also advocated for the

(i). licensing of Amotekun to carry lethal weapons

(ii). There should be greater cooperation between Amotekun and other security agencies.

(iii). Command and Control posts be installed across all the local government areas so that information can be shared in real-time as is done in many developed and not so developed countries.

2. In the light of the current high cost of living, Afenifere urged the Federal Government, through its various organs in charge of finance and fiscal policies, to accelerate actions that will strengthen the value of our currency, enhance productivity, reduce costs of items and services geared towards reducing inflation and enhancing the welfare of the people.

3. In view of the strategic position that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Plc and Independent Oil Marketers occupy in the oil sector, Afenifere strongly called on them to let the interest of the nation, nay the interest of the people of Nigeria, to be uppermost in their minds and actions.

4. The ruling by the Supreme Court has made it possible for local governments to have more control over their finances. It is therefore imperative for them to go back to what used to be the case in the past. By this we mean a situation in which local government councils not only have farms, but make things easy for local farmers by providing them with needed resources – sometimes at subsidized fees. This will not only make foodstuffs more available; it will also enhance the council’s finances and boost the local economy. This will also partly take care of the concerns raised by the Farmers who visited The Leader in April this year.

5. To ensure an enduring panacea to the country’s multi-faceted challenges, Afenifere reiterated its call for the Restructuring of the country to take place within the shortest time possible. The organization called on President Bola Tinubu to leverage on that part of his credential as a known democrat and federalist to quicken the country’s realization of true federalism.

6. To ensure more smooth running of the organization’s operations, body resolved to revamp its International Secretariat in Lagos and sub-National Secretariats in the State capitals in the South West.

Note is taken of the Yorubas in Kwara and Kogi States in this respect as well.

At the meeting, the following officers were appointed by The Leader.

And the appointments were ratified by the Caucus.

i. Dr. Olusegun Mimiko – Chairman, Reconciliatory Committee

.ii. Agbaakin Ademola Folarin – Secretary General

iii. Alagba Dare Babrinsa – Treasurer

iv. Barrister Lanre Omisore – Financial Secretary

These officers are to join the incumbent office holders in person of:

a. Abagun Kole Omololu – National Organizing Secretary

b. Dr. Akin Onigbinde – Legal Adviserc.

Comrade Jare Ajayi – National Publicity Secretary.

The Leader congratulated members of the newly constituted Executive Committee and urged them to ensure that they move Afenifere and Yorubaland positively forward.

He charged Afenifere members to be more committed to the noble ideals that the organization stands for and project it further in their respective states.

He concluded by praying for the success of governments at all levels so that the people can enjoy a better lease of life.

Signed:

Comrade Jare Ajayi

National Publicity Secretary.