Afenifere National Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti
By Banji Ayoola
The pan Yoruba socio political and cultural organisation, Afenifere, on Tuesday stressed the need to restructure Nigeria before the scheduled 2023 presidential election.
This was the kernel of resolutions reached at a crucial meeting of the Ondo State chapter of the group which held at the Akure home of its National Leader, Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti.
Also, the meeting urged the authorities to do the needful on the issue of inconclusive investigation of the assassination of a daughter of its Leader, the late Mrs. Funke Olakunri, by concluding the investigation and prosecuting her murderers as the law demands.
According to the State Chairman of the group, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa, who briefed reporters after the meeting: “Whether we like it or not, the country is in trouble.
“Look at the Fulani herdsmen; the type of the heinous crimes they are perpetrating.
“We are talking of the presidential election. Yes. We are not preaching boycotting of it; but we are saying restructure this country; we must restructure first.”
Arogbofa said: “Talking of restructuring this country, if the country is restructured, the better for us. We don’t want to talk too much about that because that is like giving you a lecture. We talked about the need to restructure this country in line with the philosophy of Afenifere.”
In his words: “All is not well in the country. We all know it. All these are signals that are not healthy. If we have signals that are not healthy, we can make it healthy.
“Talking of signals that are not healthy, we can quickly respond to it. There is the Fulani herders’ indiscriminate and callous banditry.
“People are saying that bandits should be declared as terrorists.
“Look at the fate of Benue; the cries of Governor Ortom. These are signs that all is not well. Or do you want to tell me that we are safe anywhere in this country where you can be attacked any moment, where you can’t move freely.
“All these are signs that all is not well. Or talk of unemployment when millions of young people like you, university graduates, are not employed. All these are signs.
He added: “We reviewed a lot of things. We looked at the past events and we made projections. As Afenifere members, we sing the same song. There is no difference in the philosophy of Afenifere.”
Also, he said that the meeting discussed the welfare of the family of the late national spokesman of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, whose wife recently gave birth to baby twins, among others.
At the briefing, Arogbofa was flanked by a former presidential candidate and ex Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae, Afenifere State Vice Chairman, Chief Femi Aluko, State Secretary, Chief Korede Duyile, and former Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Bakita Bello, among others.
Contributing, Falae said: “We also raised the issue of the inconclusive investigation of the assassination of our Leader’s daughter, Funke Olakunri.
“The police said they arrested some people. We don’t know what has happened. We are very concerned and we like to urge the authorities to do the needful, to do justice for Funke and her family.”
On the recent statement by Afenifere Acting National Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, that the group would ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari restructures this country before he leaves power next year, Falae said: “What our Acting Leader was saying was that Afenifere would do everything humanly possible to make the Federal Government restructure this country. We would do all that is humanly possible. We can’t do more than that.”
Also, Aluko added: “Afenifere as usual, has been a progressive organisation. We are not happy about the situation of the country at the moment; but we pray that the Almighty will assist this country to move out of this retrogressive position we are today.”
This was the first meeting of the state chapter of the group since Chief Ayo Adebanjo became the Acting National Leader last year.
In attendance at the meeting also were Afenifere National Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti; Secretary General, Chief Sola Ebiseeni; State Publicity Secretary, Mr Remi Olayiwola; Mr. Banji Kuroloja; Mr Ige Jongbo; Mr Kehinde Fasoranti; Chief Mrs Animola; Prince Adebanjo Edema; Mr Koye Eleko; Mrs Janet Obanla; Yeyeoge Funmilola Oluwadare; Mr Olamide Abidakun; Chief Eric Oluwole; Mr Asemudara Taiwo; Mr Tolulope Ojo; Mrs EniOlorunda; and Mr Gbenga Akinsulire among others.
