The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has pledged to unite with Nigerians and democratic forces to oppose the growing centralization of political power in Nigeria.
The group made this declaration in a communique released following its monthly meeting held at the residence of its Leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State.
In the communique, signed by its Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, Afenifere expressed its concern over the increasing tendency towards unitarianism in Nigerian politics. The organisation announced plans to mobilise against these practices, stating, “Afenifere resolved to, in due course and soon, mobilise and join democratic forces with all lovers of Nigeria against all tenets, tendencies, pretences, policies, and practices of unitarianism in the Nigerian body of politics.”
Afenifere also criticized the recent introduction of a bill to establish a National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission (NILGEC), which would oversee local government elections. The group described the proposal as an extension of inefficiencies already seen in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling it “a monumental multiplication of INEC’s inefficiencies at 774 degrees.”
“The idea of a federal agency to conduct local government elections is a veritable weapon in furtherance of the undisguised policy of complete capture and absolute unitarianism of the Nigerian Federation by the Central Government, a policy that has attained its crescendo under the present administration,” Afenifere stated.
The organisation condemned political actions by both the federal and state governments, accusing them of undermining democracy and pushing Nigeria towards a unitary system. Afenifere decried these moves as violations of the country’s foundational covenant of federalism.
“The Federal Government and its INEC have proven not better at conducting the limited elections with which they are saddled by the Constitution,” the communique read, as the group pledged to continue its efforts to protect democracy and federalism in Nigeria.