By Bukola Olamona

The Pan-Yoruba Socio-Cultural group, Afenifere, has again emphasised that the time to restructure the country is now.

It therefore urged President Bola Tinubu to set the machinery in motion for that purpose, adding that the President, a known democrat and federalist would not hesitate to do things that will quicken the country’s quest for true federalism in which people would have self-determination within the context of one nation that is genuinely democratic and federal.

This was part of a communique the group arrived at, at end of the first annual meeting and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Worldwide, Comrade Jare Ajayi.

The first meeting in the new year was held at the usual Akure home of its national leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

According to the communique, to have a new lease of life and a better Nigeria, restructuring must be put on priority list.

The communique also disclosed that to reposition the group, the position of Acting leader and deputy leader in the association has been abolished.

The meeting was well attended by members from Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara, Ogun, Osun and Kogi. It was also decided that the responsibilities and authority of advising the Leader, Afenifere and Asiwaju Yoruba are now vested in the Afenifere Elders Caucus which has been constituted.

Members of the Elders Caucus are, Chief Reuben Fasoranti – Chairman , Chief Ayo Adebanjo , HRM Oba Olu Falae CFR GCON, HE Senator C O Adebayo, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, , Basorun Seinde Arogbofa OFR, Senator Kofo Bucknor Akerele, Arch Bishop Prince Ayo Ladigbolu , Lt. Gen Alani Ipoola Akinrinade rtd among others.

On the Socio-economic and security situations in the country, it stated that there is an urgent need to nework the security architecture of the country to ensure that Nigerians are able to live and move about without the fear of being kidnapped or harassed in any way.

“Such reworking should include giving states and local government councils that so desire to establish own police services with all the requisite powers to function as doing so would check, if not totally stop, the incidences of kidnapping and sundry banditry now ravaging the land”, it added.

It stated that blast in Ibadan which it described as unfortunate,
clearly underscores the need to allow the federating units in the country to control mineral resources in their respective areas with particular reference to mining and exploration.

The reasoning behind this, it added was that had it been that states were in control of mining for instance, Oyo State government was likely to have known how explosives were being moved around the state.

The communique expressed the hope that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda would be given the necessary push so that life can be easier for the people of Nigeria.

Afenifere also commended the Department of State Security (DSS) for checkmating Miyetti Allah for setting up a 1,144-strong Nomad Vigilante militia in Nassarawa to provide security for Fulani herders, describing it as timely and in order.