Pa Ayo Adebanjo is no longer the acting leader of Afenifere – the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group. He is now a member of Afenifere Elders Caucus,
National leader of the group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, stated this on Wednesday 24 January 2024 during the group’s monthly general meeting at his residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Fasoranti said in the light of recent events and the pressing need to reposition and rejuvenate Afenifere, the positions of acting leader and deputy leader had been abrogated.
In their places, he said the group had set up Afenifere Elders Caucus, comprising 21 members, adding that the responsibilities and authority of advising the Afenifere leader and Asiwaju Yoruba had been vested in the caucus.
Members of the Elders Caucus included himself (Fasoranti) as the chairman while others act as members.
The other members named were Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Oba Olu Falae, Senator C.O Adebayo, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, Senator Kofo Bucknor Akerele, Arch Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu, Lt. Gen Alani Ipoola Akinrinade, Maj Gen. Olu Bajowa (rtd) and Prof Bolaji Akinwande Akinyemi.
Others were Prof Banji Akintoye, Dr. S.A.J Ibikunle, Chief Femi Aluko, Prince Alonge, Dr Yomi Finnih, Prince Olusi,Hon Korede Duyile, Prof Ropo Sekoni, Hon Lekan Alabi and Dr. Kunle Olajide.
A communique issued after the meeting and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, explained that a motion on the need to abrogate the dual positions of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader was moved by Dr. S. J. Ibikunle from Ogun State and was seconded by members from Ekiti, Kwara, Oyo and Ondo States.
“When the matter was thrown to the general house, the motion was unanimously carried,” he said.
The group also resolved that there was an urgent need to rework the Security Architecture of the country to ensure that Nigerians 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 such.
“Doing so would check, if not totally stop, the incidences of kidnapping and sundry banditry now ravaging the land.
“The unfortunate blast in Ibadan 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 was that had it been that states were in control of mining, for instance, Oyo State government was likely to know how explosives were being moved around.
“Such would have made last week’s horrendous blast that claimed many lives, traumatised hundreds of people and destroyed properties running into Billions of Naira preventable.”
According to the Communique, the meeting took note of the report that Miyetti Allah Have set up a 1,144-strong Nomad Vigilante militia in Nasarawa ostensibly to provide security for Fulani herders.
“Afenifere was of the opinion that Miyetti Allah, being a non-state actor, should not have power to do a thing like that. It, therefore, considered the action of the Department of State Security (DSS) to checkmate Miyetti Allah on the issue as timely and in order.
“The meeting expressed the hope that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda would be giving the necessary push so that life can be easier for the people of Nigeria.
“Among the means of achieving this are taking steps that would strengthen the value of our currency, the Naira, reduce costs of energy (fuel in particular) through local production of petroleum products as well as regular supply of electricity.”
In view of the current high cost of living, Afenifere urged the federal government, through its various organs in charge of finance and fiscal policies, to accelerate actions that will strengthen the value of naira, enhance productivity, reduce costs of items
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