The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has taken a strong stance against unitarianism in Nigerian politics, vowing to mobilize support among Nigerians to combat this trend.
This declaration was made in a communique released following Afenifere’s monthly meeting, which took place at the residence of its leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State.
In the statement, signed by the Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and the National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, Afenifere emphasized its commitment to rallying democratic forces across the nation.
The communique stated, “Afenifere resolved to, in due course and soon, mobilise and join democratic forces with all lovers of Nigeria against all tenets, tendencies, pretences, policies and practices of unitarianism in the Nigerian body of politics.”
Afenifere also addressed the recent introduction of a bill aimed at establishing a National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission to oversee local government elections.
The organization views this proposal as an unnecessary duplication of the inefficiencies currently experienced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The communique further articulated this concern, asserting, “Afenifere notes the introduction of a bill to establish a National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission, NILGEC, for the conduct of Local Government elections and considers the idea as nothing but a monumental multiplication of INEC’s inefficiencies at 774 degrees.”
Critically, Afenifere labeled the establishment of a federal agency to conduct local elections as a tool for advancing the Central Government’s agenda of consolidating unitarian control over Nigeria.
The statement continued, noting, “The idea of a federal agency to conduct local government elections is a veritable weapon in furtherance of the undisguised policy of complete capture and absolute unitarianism of the Nigerian Federation by the Central Government, a policy that has attained its crescendo under the present administration.”
Moreover, Afenifere condemned the ongoing political machinations that undermine democracy within the Nigerian governmental framework, denouncing political gerrymandering that threatens the federal structure established in the nation’s constitution.
The communique made it clear,“Afenifere decries all forms of political rascality aimed at stifling democracy by the two tiers of the Nigerian government structure and equally condemns in unmistakable terms political gerrymandering pushing Nigeria into a unitary state by wielders of transient political power contrary to the existential covenant of federalism.”
In its final remarks, Afenifere expressed disappointment with the Federal Government and INEC, criticizing their inability to manage even the limited elections assigned to them by the Constitution, “The Federal Government and its INEC have proven not better at conducting the limited elections with which they are saddled by the Constitution.”
Through this resolution, Afenifere seeks to galvanize a united front among Nigerians to protect the principles of federalism and democracy in the face of growing centralization in governance.
