Appoints Farotimi as Organising Secretary
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has reiterated the call for the formation of state police and overhaul of the country’s security network to ensure optimal security for the citizenry.

During the caucus meeting convened at the residence of its national leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the organisation stressed the urgent need to include modern technology in the war against banditry and terrorism.

However, the Pa Ayo Adebanjo-led faction of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, yesterday, appointed lawyer and human rights activist, Dele Farotimi, as its National Organising Secretary.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of the Fasoranti faction, Jare Ajayi, with technology, the incidences of kidnapping and sundry banditry ravaging the country will be frontally tackled.

Ajayi, who read a communiqué after the meeting, advocated for the licensing of lethal weapons for the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), known as Amotekun Corps.

While stressing that the move should be made before the setting up of the state police, he urged local council chairmen in the country to subsidise resources for farmers to enhance food security.

He said: “In view of the present security situation, Afenifere advocated the overhaul of the security architecture in the country. This is with a view to ensuring 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 include modern technology more comprehensively in the efforts at combating banditry and terrorism.”

Afenifere also called for greater cooperation between Amotekun corps and other security agencies, urging that command and control posts be built across all the local councils so that information could be shared real-time as is done in many other countries.

It was persistent on the need to use the Yoruba language more as a medium of communication.

The body specifically called on governments in Yoruba-speaking states to make Yoruba the medium of teaching at basic levels of our education.

It added: “In view of the strategic position that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and Independent Oil Marketers occupy in the oil sector, Afenifere called on them to let the interest of the nation be uppermost in their minds and actions.”

In view of the high cost of food items in the country, Afenifere urged states and local councils to make things easy for local farmers by providing them with needed resources—even at subsidised rates.

Afenifere called on President Bola Tinubu to leverage his known democratic credentials as a federalist by quickening the country’s realisation of true federalism as soon as possible.

FAROTIMI’s appointment was approved in the general meeting of Afenifere at Pa Adebanjo’s residence in Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, yesterday.

However, some prominent members of the group, when contacted, feigned ignorance of the development, saying, they neither attended the meeting nor were consulted before the decision was taken.

While Sen Femi Okunrounmu said such a decision was not deliberated upon by the majority, Supo Sonibare confirmed the appointment although he said he was not present at the meeting.

“It is true that Farotimi had been appointed as Organising Secretary of Afenifere. The activist himself was present at the meeting. Pa Adebanjo had earlier discussed the appointment with Farotimi before it was brought to the general meeting.”

However, Farotimi’s appointment was contained in a communiqué issued after the meeting and jointly signed by the Deputy Leader, Oladipo Olaitan, and the National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye.

“The General Meeting considered and approved the appointment of Dele Farotimi as the National Organising Secretary of the Afenifere,” the statement reads.

Farotimi’s appointment is coming barely 24 hours after a Yoruba legal luminary, Afe Babalola, agreed to drop a defamatory suit filed against him.

One of the aides to Farotimi, by name Shayo, confirmed the appointment to The Guardian through a WhatsApp message, which reads: “It is true”

Babalola had dragged the human rights lawyer to court for allegedly defaming him in his (Farotimi’s) book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.

Farotimi was granted bail in the sum of N30 million by an Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti where he was arraigned.

Afenifere reiterated that Nigeria, with its vast territory, population and as a federation could not be effectively and meaningfully secured with a single command unitary police structure and thus the need for the restructuring to ensure immediate constitutional institutionalisation of state police.

It called for the immediate release of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, describing him as a political detainee.