The declaration was made in a communique issued following Afenifere's monthly meeting held at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, the residence of its leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation Afenifere has pledged to mobilise forces against unitarianism in Nigerian politics, declaring its intention to resist practices that undermine federalism.
The declaration was made in a communique issued following Afenifere's monthly meeting held at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, the residence of its leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
The statement, released by Deputy Leader Oba Oladipo Olaitan and Justice Faloye, emphasised Afenifere’s resolve to unite with democratic forces and Nigerians who value the country’s diversity.
The organisation also expressed strong support for a transition from the current presidential system, which they described as "corrupt" and "too expensive," advocating instead for a parliamentary government that aligns better with the principles of federalism.
The statement reads, “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.”
The organisation explained that 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 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.
“The Federal Government and its INEC have proven not better at conducting the limited elections with which they are saddled by the Constitution,” the statement said.
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