Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization as abrogated the office of the acting leader of the group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, as well call for the formation of state police amid the rising insecurity in the region.
Adebanjo was appointed as the acting leader of the group in 2022, and formed another group known as Afenifere Elders Caucus, with Adebanjo a member and PA Reuben Fasoranti as leader.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the monthly meeting of the group held at the residence of its National Leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, on Wednesday.
The communiqué read, “In the light of recent events and the pressing need to reposition and rejuvenate Afenifere, it has been decided that the position of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader have now been abrogated.
“The responsibilities and authority of advising the Leader of Afenifere and Asiwaju Yoruba are now vested in the Afenifere Elders Caucus, which is hereby constituted.”
The communiqué include Fasoranti as the Chairman of the Elders Caucus, while the members of the group comprise Adebanjo, Oba Olu Falae, Senator Cornelius Adebayo, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, Senator Kofo Bucknor-Akerele, Archbishop Prince Ayo Ladigbolu, Lt. Gen Alani, Akinrinade (retd), Maj. Gen. Olu Bajowa (retd), Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Prof Banji Akintoye, among others.
The group also expressed its displeasure over the state of the nation with particular reference to the socio-economic and security situations in the country, saying it was time to restructure the country as a means towards a new lease of life and a better Nigeria.
“There is an urgent need to rework the security architecture of the country 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 giving States and Local Government Councils that so desire to establish their own police services with all the requisite powers to function as such to check if not totally stop, the incidences of kidnapping and sundry banditry now ravaging the land.”
“The unfortunate blast in Ibadan clearly underscores the need to allow the federating units in the country to control mineral resources in their respective areas with particular reference to mining and exploration.”
“The group took note of the fact that the President, a known democrat and federalist, would not hesitate to do things that will quicken the country’s quest for true federalism in which people would have self-determination within the context of one nation that is genuinely democratic and federal.”