Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere on Tuesday, called on the Federal Government to re-organise and reconstitute the nation’s security architecture to reflect the diversity of the current situation and the immediate removal of the Minister of Defence, Brig Gen Monsur Dan Alli.
The Afenifere group, who stated this at the end of its meeting in Akure Ondo state capital, expressed worries over the rate of killing by the herdsmen in the country, demanding for the immediate disarming of herdsmen across the country.
Reading the group’s communique after the meeting, the Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said ” the meeting call for the immediately reorganize the country security architecture to reflect the diversity of the country
“The current situation where 16 out of 17 Service Chiefs in the country are from a section of the county is unhealthy and promoting clannishness in dealing with security issues in a multi-ethnic
Afenifere also call for immediate removal of the Minister of Defense Brig Gen Monsur Dan Alli for his insensitively and sanctioning of killings of Nigerians, saying this is the only way to show that the lives of Nigerians still count.
The group condemned the loud silence of President Muhammadu Buhari over the killings, noting that Nigeria has been turned to a slaughtering field by the herdsmen saying “this is evident in the new year massacre in Benue, the killings in Adamawa, Taraba, Ekiti, Plateau, Ogun, Ondo and other states in Nigeria.
“These killings and arsonist attacks now wear the garb of state-approved given the loud silence of the president over these dastardly acts and in fact asking the governor of Benue state to find accommodation with the killers.”
Afenifere frowned over the Defence Minister comment who said the promulgation of anti open-grazing law and the blockage of grazing routes responsible for the killing in Benue State, describing the statement as unfortunate, noting that the minister prefers conferring immunity on cattle to human beings.
The communique read: “Nigeria today has become a primitive and barbaric enclave as the state is either complicit or unwilling to stop these dastardly acts.
“We call on the President to rise up to the challenge of his office by addressing the nation directly on these developments that threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria and ensure the killings are stopped and the perpetrators brought to book.”
Afenifere also kicked against the proposed policy of the Cattle colony in any part of the Yorubaland, describing the concept as not only offensive, repugnant, and an affront on the rights of non-Fulani communities across in Nigeria “as their lands would now be forcefully acquired and be subjected to an alien culture and rule in the name of cattle rearing” .
“Yoruba people would not allow any colony on their land as we are a free people. Anyone who wants to raise cow within our space should do ranching and we call on Yoruba entrepreneurs to venture into ranching to produce cows for domestic consumption and exportation”
The Afenifere group also reiterated its stand on the restructuring of the country saying federalism remains the only vehicle to tackle myriads of problems confronting Nigeria as a country.
The group said “we call for an immediate restructuring of Nigeria into a proper federation with the federating units having their own police to guarantee internal security and law enforcement.
We also call on the government to put a halt to the culture of repression going on in the country and for the govt to realize that we are in a constitutional democracy where the rule of law should prevail.
“The meeting call for a collective rescue effort by patriots across Nigeria in organizing and mobilizing effectively for a movement around Federalism that can save Republic from collapse and put Nigeria back on track and guarantee security of lives and property and prosperity for all Nigerians”
The group commended the spirit of fraternal engagements between the Yoruba leaders and the Igbo leaders over the meeting of the “Handshake Across the Niger,” calling on the zones involved to keep up the spirit of understanding and solidarity.
Afenifere, however, paid a glowing tribute to the late first elected Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekweme whose body will be interred on Thursday, describing him as an epitome of sound values, a sound mind with prodigious intellect and a perfect gentleman.
Afenifere said “Ekwueme will forever be remembered as a giant among advocates of federalism in Nigeria and the man who gave Nigeria the six zonal structure that we have in the country today. May he find eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord.”
Some of the leaders of the group at the meeting included: former governors Olusegun Mimiko and Gbenga Daniel, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Ayo Adebanjo, Olu Falae,
Sehinde Arogbofa, Olu Agunloye, Dr Kunle Olajide, and many leaders across the Yoruba speaking state including Kwara and Kogi state.
