Afenifere set to unveil new ‘working document’ for Nigeria’s coexistence

Under the direction of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Afenifere announced that it would soon release a new “working document” aimed at promoting the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities.

According to Daily Sun, the document represents the restructuring committee’s recommendation, which was formed in November 2023 with the goal of developing “a most inclusive restructuring plan upon which the various nationalities that make up the Nigerian State shall be governed.”

According to the organisation, the newly released document was part of the committee’s report, which was led by its deputy leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, with senator Femi Okurounmu as his deputy, and senators Kofo Bucknor-Akerele, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, Chief Supo Shonibare, Mr. Tola Mobolurin, Bayo Adenekan, Dele Farotimi, Dr. David Oluwayomi Atte, Segun Olawoyin, Basorun Segun Sanni, Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo, Adenike Olujembola, Adejumo among others as members would be made public after consultations with the leaders of the other zones that make up the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF).

The General Assembly of the organisation stated this in a communique issued at the end of its meeting at the Isanya-Ogbo, Ijebu Ode country home of Adebanjo on Tuesday, March 26.

The communique signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo, reiterated Afenifere’s stance on the principle of egalitarianism and true federalism as the critical irreducible minimal basis upon which the Nigerian nation is to function.

It commended the Patriots, a pan-Nigerian group of eminent national leaders of thought, which at a recent National Dialogue on the Constitutional Future of Nigeria with the theme, ‘Lawful Procedures for Actualising a People’s Constitution for Nigeria’, in honour of the late Prof. Ben Nwabueze, held at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos, called for a truly representational constitution, as the fulcrum on which Nigeria’s growth, development, peace and unity is premised and promised, and therefore, called for the complete abolishment of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

While condemning the rising spate of insecurity across the country, it called on governments at all levels and the National Assembly to speed up the creation of state police, insisting that it was the best way to address the worsening insecurity and its devastating impacts on the welfare and livelihood of ordinary Nigerians.

It urged the government to take urgent steps to stem the worsening food insecurity by going after the bandits that target farmers and destroy their produce.

It commended President Bola Tinubu’s position at the Ramadan dinner with members of the federal judiciary that kidnappers should be treated as terrorists to get rid of them, noting that the president’s stand tallied with that of Afenifere.

The communique read in part: “That the state of insecurity in the country is worsening by the day, with devastating impacts on the welfare and livelihood of ordinary Nigerians, Afenifere calls on the federal government, the state governments, the National Assembly to speed up on the issues of immediate concern — creation of the state police.

“The federal government must take urgent steps to stem the tide of worsening food insecurity by going after those deliberately killing farmers and destroying farm produce, crops and groceries.

“The Afenifere General Assembly firmly reiterates its stance on the principle of egalitarianism and true federalism as the critical irreducible minimal basis upon which the Nigerian nation is to function as agreed upon by the founding fathers. The assembly commends the Patriots who organised the recent conversation on the need for a truly representational constitution, as the fulcrum on which Nigeria’s growth, development, peace and unity is premised and promised…

“Afenifere condemns ongoing attacks on communities in the Middle Belt and the killings of the indigenous peoples and decimation of their villages in the Middle Belt Region, in particular, the current escalated war on Southern Kaduna, targeting communities and villages and having the audacity to not only take over other people’s ancestral lands but renaming such out of their nativity into names and languages alien to the indigenous people.

“The assembly equally decries the continued confinement of victims of terror attacks in the terrorists’ labyrinth for weeks leading to deaths and deprivations. The assembly calls on the Federal Government and security agencies to secure the safe release of all victims…”

Those at the meeting included Kabiyesi Oba Oladipo Olaitan, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Senator Shefiu Gbenga Kaka, The Deputy Secretary General of the organisation, Mr. Alade Rotimi-John, Mr Tola Mobolurin, Pastor Adebayo Adenekan, Mrs Bola Doherty, Chief Olutunde Onakoya, Prince Adesina Basorun, Reverend Oyegoke Omigbodun, Erelu Dewale Bolarinwa, Mrs Toyin Falade, and Chief Segun Ojo, among others.