Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has called on Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits, saying they have declared war on the country.
It also insisted that there must be restructuring in order to solve the problems bedevilling the country, adding that it must be before the next elections in the country. It stressed that this is the only way to fix Nigeria, even as it said the restructuring should be completed before the general elections in 2023.
Besides, it asked the Federal Government to immediately approve state police to enable states to protect themselves from the various acts of terrorism, kidnapping, herders/farmers clashes that pervade Nigeria.
The group stated these in a communiqué after its monthly meeting at the home of its acting leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, in Sanya-Ogbo, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on Tuesday.
In the communiqué signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the group also called on the government and security agencies to halt the unbridled influx of people with questionable intentions in order to check Nigeria’s “unprecedented security problems.”
“Afenifere observes that terrorism and related vices, including kidnapping are now so worrisome that in some cases, our people in places like Yewa, Ogun State and Oke Ogun in Oyo State, among others are forced to relocate to Benin Republic and other West African countries. Urgent actions must be taken to guarantee the security of these people and to put a stop to what is causing them agonies.”
It said: “In view of the fact that Nigeria nation is fast moving into the precipice, there is the need by the federal government to urgently put a halt to various acts of terrorism, kidnapping, herders/farmers clashes and the like.
“This, Government can do, by immediately allowing states to have their own police. In fact, the security apparatus should be democratised down to the local level.”
It said, “In view of the fact that Nigeria nation is fast moving into the precipice, there is the need by the federal government to urgently put a halt to various acts of terrorism, kidnapping, herders/farmers clashes and the like. This, Government can do, by immediately allowing states to have their own police. In fact, the security apparatus should be democratised down to the local level. Every community must be at alert to realise that they must defend themselves from bandits who seem to have declared war on Nigeria. Afenifere again reiterated its position that restructuring remains the panacea to solve the multifarious problems bedevilling the country now. And, we insist that this restructuring should be done before the next elections in the country.”
It also bemoaned the influx of foreigners into Nigeria under the guise of commercial motorcycle riders, which it said has worsened the security situation and called on indigenous communities in the country to be on the alert and be ready to defend themselves from bandits who have declared war on Nigeria.
It said, “Afenifere notes with serious concern the unprecedented security problems accentuated by the influx of people even from outside Nigeria. Some of them are disguising as Okada riders. We call on the government and security agencies to put a halt to the unbridled influx of people with questionable intentions. Terrorism and related vices including kidnapping are now so worrisome that in some cases, our people in places like Yewa, Ogun State, Oke Ogun in Oyo State, etc are forced to be relocating into the Benin Republic and other West African countries. Urgent actions must be taken to guarantee the security of these people and to put a stop to what is causing them agonies.”
The group said it stood with the 17 southern governors on the ban on open grazing and commended the South-West states on the establishment of the regional security, Amotekun.
It added, “It is a known fact that Afenifere strongly stands by the southern governors in their resolution on anti-grazing laws. We commend the steps taken by the governors of the South-West states on the establishment of security networks like Amotekun. We urge them to continue to forge ahead.”
It also said incessant security breaches in border towns in Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo called for the protection of the people in the areas.
The statement said: “It is a known fact that Afenifere strongly stands by the Southern Governors in their resolution on anti-grazing laws. We commend the steps taken by governors of the South-West on the establishment of security networks like Amotekun.
“Afenifere again reiterated its position that restructuring remains the panacea to solve the multi various problems bedevilling the country now. And we insist that this restructuring should be done before the next elections in the country.
“In the meantime, every community must be at alert to realise that they must defend themselves from bandits who seem to have declared war on Nigeria.”
The group condemned the illegal mining activities going on in various parts of Yorubaland, which it said jeopardise the economic and agricultural well being of the people.
“We note with concern the illegal mining activities going on in various parts of our land, especially by non-indigenes. In many cases, the manner of this activity is not only jeopardising the economic and agricultural activities of our people in these areas, the security of the people is also being seriously threatened”, Afenifere said.
Earlier, Adebanjo leaders of the group had resolved to preach ‘no new constitution, no 2023 election’ to Nigerians, adding that it would be a waste of time to participate in an election with the 1999 Constitution.
He said, “Our stand is that the constitution is not our own, the election is going on under that fraudulent constitution they said they will go to the assembly to amend. The assembly is the product of the fraud. You want the beneficiary of the fraud to amend the fraud, who are you talking to?”
Adebanjo backed the comment of a retired Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi, that Boko Haram’s sponsors were part of the Federal Government.
He said “It is left for Buhari to deny what Olawunmi said. He said he was in the inner part of Military Intelligence and that he has worked with all heads of state; it is for Buhari to say that he had never worked with us.’”
