From left: Former Ogun State Governor and member, Yoruba Socio-Cultural Group, Afenifere, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; the group’s Deputy National Leader and Olu of Alago Kajola, Oba Oladipo Olaitan; Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; National Leader of the group, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; former Secretary to the Federal Governmen and ex-Finance Minister, Chief Olu Falae; Secretary to Ondo State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu and other dignitaries, after a condolence visit to the Governor in his office yesterday, over the massacre of worshipers at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo last Sunday
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By Banji Ayoola
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has demanded state police and restructuring of Nigeria into a balanced federation before the scheduled 2023 elections.
In fact, it said that without state police on ground nationwide as the most potent measure to tame the worsening frightening incidents of insecurity sweeping across the land; and restructuring of the country from the prevailing unjust status quo that is tilted against the majority of the nation’s composite ethnic groups, but serves only the myopic and selfish interests of a few cabals; conducting the forthcoming general elections would be an exercise in futility.
In the words of the group’s National Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo: “The elections we are going into will be an exercise in futility if we don’t change the constitution. We want state police and restructuring before the elections. So, change the constitution before moving further.”
He spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Thursday during a condolence visit by an Afenifere delegation to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in his Alagabaka office, over last Sunday’s attack and killing of about 40 worshipers and maiming of many others at a Catholic Church in Owo, the governor’s home town.
On the delegation were the group’s Deputy National Leader, Oba Oladapo Olaitan; a former Secretary to the Federal Government and ex-Finance Minister, Chief Olu Falae; the group’s General Secretary, Chief Sola Ebiseeni; a former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; an ex-Police Force spokesman, Chief Tunji Alapinni; and a former Commissioner in Ondo State, Chief Korede Duyile, among others.
Stressing that Nigerians are currently suffering under the 1999 “military imposed fraudulent constitution,” Adebanjo insisted on the change of the constitution to give the country a truly People’s Constitution, that will give equal opportunity to all, and redress the prevailing imbalance and injustice threatening the corporate existence of the country.
He commiserated with the Governor, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye, the Catholic Church, Owo People and the entire People of the state over the horrible Owo incident.
He commended Akeredolu as a true son of Yoruba land, whose courage in establishing the local security outfit, Amotekun Corps, to strengthen security in the six states of the South West, is typical of a true Yoruba man.
The Afenifere leader particularly commended the Governor for doing his best to secure not only the state but the entire South-West region.
According to him, the security situation in the region would have been worse, but for the establishment and operation of the Amotekun Corps.
Also, Adebanjo praised the courage and stance of the Governor on issues of national importance, noting that Akeredolu has always demonstrated that he is a politician with a second address.
Describing the Owo church attack as an unfortunate situation, he called on Akeredolu to ensure that the assailants do not go unpunished.
He insisted that the assailants, who he called terrorists, must be apprehended and made to face the consequences of the heinous crime.
The group also donated N1.5 million to the church and victims of the attack.
In his speech, Akeredolu appreciated Afenifere for the condolence visit, noting that his administration would not back down on its Anti-open Grazing Law.
“What we have suffered is not just gruesome, for me it is like an annihilation because these animals in human’s skin did not come to kidnap, But they came to maim and kill. So, that is why we have never minced words to say they are terrorists.
“We have been reading the news, and I think this incident is the most internationalised incident in Nigeria ever. Today the Pope is talking and tomorrow the House of Commons is debatin;, everybody is talking. I have got calls from many people; I have gotten letter from the US Embassy and others. Everybody is worried, I am worried myself.
“If we were at war, it was not possible for us to lose 40 poeple in a day because we would all be armed and face each other. If you visit the hospitals, one will feel even worse. I have been to all the hospitals over and over, there is no way the visit will not bring tears to your eyes.”.
Akeredolu, on the same page with Afenifere, re-emphasised the need for restructuring of the country, saying there is the need for a new constitution to take the country out of the various challenges facing it.
