Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political group, has made a series of significant resolutions at its caucus meeting held at the residence of its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, calling upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to issue an executive order enabling states and local government councils to establish their own police services.
The group emphasised that decentralising the police force would be crucial in curbing internal security breaches, a resolution highlighted in a communiqué issued after their meeting on Tuesday and subsequently shared with journalists.
The meeting, which welcomed members and saw the presiding of His Royal Majesty, Oba Olu Falae, deliberated extensively on pertinent issues affecting the organisation, Yorubaland, and Nigeria as a whole. This included discussions on the state of the nation, focusing on socio-economic and security concerns.
Afenifere urged President Tinubu, a key participant in Nigeria’s struggle against military rule and a proponent of a restructured Nigeria, to continue supporting the push for restructuring. However, it stressed the necessity of reminding him of the urgency to act swiftly and effectively in this regard.
Expressing concern over the recent surge in internal security breaches despite commendable efforts by the military in combating terrorism, particularly in the North-East and North-Central, Afenifere called on the Federal Government and security agencies to take proactive measures to address the pressing insecurity issues.
In addition to advocating for the bolstering of security agencies’ capacities, especially the police, the group reiterated the need for an executive order from President Tinubu to empower states and local government councils to establish their own police services. This move, Afenifere believes, would contribute significantly to curtailing internal security threats.
The communiqué also touched upon economic matters, urging swift actions by the Federal Government to strengthen the value of the naira, reduce inflation, enhance productivity, and lower the costs of goods and services for the welfare of the citizens.
Furthermore, the group urged the government to ensure adherence to deadlines for the resumption of petroleum product production by local refineries, emphasising the potential impact on reducing the high cost of petroleum products in the country.
Afenifere voiced concerns about the potential extinction of the Yoruba language due to a preference for English among Yoruba elites in communication with their children. To preserve the language, the group urged Yoruba governments to prioritise its teaching in elementary and lower secondary education, making it compulsory at the school certificate examination level.
The resolution also called upon parents and guardians to encourage proficiency in the Yoruba language among children, emphasising the importance of safeguarding and perpetuating the Yoruba culture and heritage.
The resolutions by Afenifere reflect the group’s commitment to addressing critical socio-economic, security, and cultural challenges facing the Yoruba people and Nigeria at large.
