The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has re-emphasised that restructuring is the most potent instrument to tackle the socio-political and economic challenges bedeviling the country.
The foremost Yoruba group, which also frowned at the resurgence of kidnapping and banditry in the country, particularly in Yorubaland, demands immediate action, noting that the issue of state police must immediately kick off.
Afenifere disclosed this at the end of its caucus meeting held at the residence of its national leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State capital.
According to the group in a communiqué signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, governors should endeavour to cooperate with the federal government so that the allocations to local governments can take effect immediately.
The communiqué read: “Given the prime position that security occupies in the life of any society, Afenifere again called on the Federal Government and security agencies to redesign the security architecture in such a way that those in charge of security would be able to dig deeper into its causes and deal with them decisively.
“In this wise, we are calling on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to, in collaboration with state governors, urgently come up with strategies to confront the challenges and put them under control.
“While the above is going on, states’ governors, particularly in Yorubaland, should further strengthen the security network in the region because of the upsurge of terrorism in our area. For instance, Amotekun personnel should be increased, motivated, trained, and properly equipped. Besides, modern technology such as drones, etc., to tackle insecurity should be deployed.
“Afenifere is unrelenting in its insistence that state police should take off immediately. In the meantime, Afenifere called on state governors to track unscrupulous herders terrorising our farmers – including owners of the cows with which they are making lives difficult for our people.
“In view of the importance of food in any society, state governments in Yorubaland are called upon to pay more serious attention to agriculture. Policy papers on how farm settlements were established and run should be revisited and reviewed in line with the present reality for implementation purposes.
“This time around, local government councils should be given the mandate and leverage to establish farms in their respective areas.
“Farm inputs be made available to the farmers at subsidised rates. In the same vein, food items can be made available to the people at subsidised rates.”
The group further stressed that “Afenifere is very persistent on the need to ensure that the Yoruba language is used more as a medium of communication.
“The body specifically called on governments in Yoruba-speaking states to make Yoruba the medium of teaching at elementary levels of our education: kindergarten/nursery, primary and junior secondary schools.
“Afenifere also urged legislatures in Yoruba-speaking states to make Yoruba the language of conducting their legislative businesses as much as possible.
“In view of the centrality of restructuring in the resolution of many challenges facing the country, Afenifere is calling 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.”
