Pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organisation, Afenifere, has called on the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government to work harder on its economic reforms to ensure that the country bounces back and becomes stronger.
Rising from its caucus meeting on Tuesday, at the Akure-home of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Afenifere decried the deplorable condition that banditry has assumed in parts of Kwara, Kogi, Ogun, Ondo and Oyo States with the seeming genocide in Benue, Plateau, Niger and Katsina States.
“Having noticed that the impact of some of the steps taken are already being felt in some aspects of the economy, Afenifere calls on the government to work harder on its economic reform policies so as to ensure that the country’s economy bounces back and becomes stronger.”
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and made available to LEADERSHIP in Akure, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, called for accelerated actions for the urgent take-off of the much announced state police.
While noting that the security agencies were trying their best, Afenifere said a lot still needs to be done to address the undesirable insecurity situation going on in different parts of the country.
Afenifere also backed the call by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu that local communities should be encouraged and funded to defend themselves.
“We feel that while both kinetic and non-kinectic strategies are employed to combat banditry and terrorism, community leaders, politicians and the locals should identify and check internal saboteurs and those who are collaborating with criminals.
“In the same vein, there is the need for strong policies on justice, fairness and a determination to ensure that no group of people constitute danger or threat to other people, especially in their ancestral homes,” the communique said.
Afenifere further suggested that modern technology equipment, including drones, close circuit cameras (CCTV), be procured and appropriately deployed while security personnel should also be motivated and encouraged.
It further stated that all impediments against the enforcement of Anti-Open Grazing Laws passed by some state governments be removed to put a check on the destructions being visited on farmlands to curb farmers/herders clashes.
The Pan-Yoruba organisation lauded the federal government for the road projects being carried out in various parts of the country.
It again called for reconstruction works to be accelerated on Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa-Akure Road, Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin Road, Ibadan-Ijebu-ode Road, Ibadan-Abeokuta Road, among others.
“We call on the authorities to prevail on contractors who have been mobilised to quickly move to the sites while those who are already on sites should expedite actions.
On restructuring of the country, Afenifere repeated that the measure had become a panacea “for tackling most of the country’s problems. In this wise, we call for an urgent Bill to be sent to the National Assembly for this purpose.”
The meeting also heartily congratulates the Olubadan-designate, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, as he ascends the exalted throne of Olubadan of Ibadanland.
