Afenifere calls for urgent restructuring and state police to fight Nigeria’s escalating insecurity and economic woes.
AKURE, Nigeria – In a dramatic address that has rocked the nation’s socio-political landscape, the venerable pan-Yoruba group Afenifere has renewed its impassioned call for the restructuring of Nigeria’s federal system and the immediate establishment of a state police.
Speaking from its caucus meeting at the residence of its national leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State, the organisation did not mince its words on the gravity of the nation’s challenges.
With an air of urgency and defiance, the communiqué—a stirring blend of hope and criticism—lay bare the deep-rooted issues undermining Nigeria’s security and economic stability.
Afenifere’s mandate, as outlined in the communiqué signed by National Publicity Secretary Jare Ajayi, is unequivocal: the current security architecture is failing, with the resurgence of kidnapping, banditry, and other forms of violence casting a long shadow over Yorubaland and beyond.
The organisation’s argument is that only a thorough and swift restructuring of Nigeria’s federal structure, coupled with the deployment of a state police, can address the multifaceted challenges that have beleaguered the country for decades.
At the heart of the critique is the failure of the federal government and security agencies to tackle the root causes of insecurity. Afenifere has urged the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to collaborate with state governors—particularly those in the politically volatile Yoruba states—to devise robust strategies to confront terrorism and insurgency.
The call for immediate action extends to an increase in the deployment of Amotekun personnel, with a strong emphasis on better training, motivation, and the provision of modern technological equipment such as drones. The message is clear: Nigeria cannot afford to remain complacent while its communities are held hostage by fear and violence.
The report takes a critical view of the prevailing policy frameworks, asserting that the current system has systematically failed to protect both lives and livelihoods.
The economic implications are stark. Afenifere highlights that alongside the escalating violence, farmers in Yorubaland are being terrorised by unscrupulous herders, with disastrous impacts on agricultural production.
The organisation’s demand for a reformed agricultural policy—including subsidised farm inputs and the establishment of local farm settlements—reflects a broader critique of governmental neglect in safeguarding one of Nigeria’s most vital sectors.
Notably, the communiqué also extends beyond security and economics, championing cultural resilience. Afenifere is adamant that the Yoruba language must be given a more prominent role in the public sphere.
By advocating for Yoruba to be used as a medium of instruction in early education and in legislative affairs, the group underscores the necessity of preserving cultural identity in an increasingly globalised yet internally fragmented nation.
Critics of the current administration, including some seasoned political analysts, argue that the calls for restructuring are less about political rhetoric and more about a genuine crisis of governance.
With President Bola Tinubu’s federalist credentials under intense scrutiny, the onus is now on the highest echelons of government to reconcile Nigeria’s democratic aspirations with the urgent need for structural reform. Failure to heed these calls, they warn, could plunge the country into further disarray.
As Nigeria stands at the crossroads of change, Afenifere’s dramatic ultimatum serves as both a warning and a rallying cry. With the twin spectres of insecurity and economic malaise looming large, the organisation’s bold vision for a restructured Nigeria,
fortified by a state police and a revitalised agricultural policy, may well represent the only viable path to national rejuvenation. Atlantic Post will continue to monitor these developments with a critical eye, as the nation grapples with its future amid escalating challenges.
