Get Guardian on GoogleThink Yoruba First (TYF) and its Political Action Committee (TYF-PAC) have raised concerns over what they described as threats to Nigeria’s democratic order, while calling for sweeping structural reforms anchored on ethnolinguistic federalism as a long-term solution to insecurity across the country.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, the groups condemned what they characterised as an alleged plot against President Bola Tinubu and senior government officials, describing it as unconstitutional and dangerous to democratic stability.
They said any attempt to undermine constitutional governance whether confirmed or speculative should be rejected by citizens and institutions, stressing that Nigeria’s history of military interventions had cost the country years of political and economic development.
The groups linked their concerns to what they described as deeper structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s governance and security framework, arguing that over-centralisation has contributed to persistent insecurity, terrorism, banditry and communal violence in several regions.
TYF and TYF-PAC said communities across the North, South-West, South-East, Middle Belt and South-South continue to face violent attacks and loss of lives, which they described as evidence that the current security architecture is overstretched and ineffective.
They urged President Tinubu and the National Assembly to prioritise constitutional and institutional reforms, including greater devolution of powers to subnational units.
According to the statement, proposed reforms should include state and regional policing, decentralised internal security management, and stronger fiscal autonomy for regions.
The groups advocated what they termed “ethnolinguistic federalism,” which they said would align governance and security structures more closely with cultural and linguistic communities, improve accountability, and enable faster local responses to threats.
They also called for the establishment of constitutionally recognised regional security systems to complement federal agencies, alongside resource control measures that would allow federating units to retain a greater share of locally generated revenue for development and social services.
TYF and TYF-PAC further urged civil society organisations, traditional institutions and regional bodies to support restructuring efforts and community-based security initiatives.
They called on Nigerians to reject unconstitutional changes of government and political violence, and instead press for reforms through democratic means.
The statement reaffirmed the groups’ position that national unity should be based on justice, equity, security and consent, rather than coercion or fear.
