The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has insisted that the restructuring of the country must take place before the 2023 general elections.
It said this in a five-point communique issued at the end of its meeting held at the residence of its acting leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, in Sanya-Ogbo, Ijebu-Ode, and signed by the Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi.
While lamenting that the country was bleeding in many parts with the rate terrorism and related vices were spreading, it stated that there was the need by the Federal Government to urgently put a halt to acts of terrorism, kidnapping and herders/farmers clashes.
According to the organisation, government can do this by immediately allowing states to have their own police, maintaining that security apparatus should be democratised to the local level.
Afenifere stated further that as a result of the challenging situations facing the country, it was ready for meetings of stakeholders where the issues of restructuring, devolution of power, true federalism would be firmed up, noting that the outcome of such deliberations were to be passed in to law and be made operational immediately.
The communique reads, “It is a matter of interest that the President said that he is now favourably disposed to Restructuring. We urge him to send a bill to the National Assembly on it immediately after the planned deliberations by the stakeholders in the country.
“Afenifere strongly holds the position that the above, Restructuring, should be done before the next elections in the country.
“In the meantime, every community must be at alert to realise that they must defend themselves from bandits who seem to have declared war on Nigeria.”
