A Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has vowed to mobilize and join forces with Nigerians against the Federal Government’s plan to hold unitarian Local Government elections.
This resolution was made during the organization’s monthly meeting held at the residence of its leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State.
A communique issued after the meeting, signed by Deputy Leader and National Publicity Secretary Oba Oladipo Olaitan and Justice Faloye, respectively, outlined Afenifere’s stance.
The communique read: “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.”
Regarding the introduction of a bill to establish a National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission for conducting local government elections, Afenifere expressed strong criticism.
The communique states, “Afenifere notes the introduction of a bill to establish a National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission, NILGEC, for the conduct of Local Government elections and considers the idea as nothing but a monumental multiplication of INEC’s inefficiencies at 774 degrees.”
Afenifere views this federal agency as a tool to further the central government’s policy of unitarianism, which has reached its peak under the current administration.
The communique added, “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.”
The organization also condemned what it described as “political rascality” aimed at stifling democracy and “political gerrymandering” pushing Nigeria toward a unitary state.
The communique states, “Afenifere decries all forms of political rascality aimed at stifling democracy by the two tiers of the Nigerian government structure and equally condemns in unmistakable terms political gerrymandering pushing Nigeria into a unitary state by wielders of transient political power contrary to the existential covenant of federalism.”
Furthermore, Afenifere criticized the federal government and INEC’s track record, stating, “The Federal Government and its INEC have proven not better at conducting the limited elections with which they are saddled by the Constitution.”
Afenifere’s resolution and statements come amid ongoing debates about Nigeria’s political structure and the balance of power between federal and state governments. The organization’s commitment to combating unitarianism reflects growing concerns about the erosion of federalism and the need for greater decentralization.
