Afenifere Pledges to Mobilize Against Unitarianism in Nigerian Politics

The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has declared its intention to rally Nigerians in opposition to the growing trend of unitarianism in the nation’s political landscape. This resolution was made public in a communique issued after Afenifere’s monthly meeting, held at the residence of its leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State.

The communique, signed by Afenifere’s Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, outlined the group’s plans to unite with other democratic forces across the country. According to Afenifere, the organization is determined to resist any policy or practice that promotes centralized control at the expense of true federalism. Their focus is on safeguarding the diversity and autonomy of Nigeria’s political structure.

Afenifere particularly criticized the proposed bill to establish the National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission (NILGEC), which is intended to oversee local government elections. The organization expressed strong disapproval of this initiative, describing it as a flawed attempt to multiply the inefficiencies of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across all 774 local governments in the country. Afenifere argued that the creation of NILGEC would only exacerbate existing problems, rather than address the core issues of electoral governance and transparency.

The communique reflects Afenifere’s long-standing commitment to federalism, decentralization, and the protection of local governance structures from excessive federal interference. By opposing unitarian tendencies, the organization aims to promote a more equitable and representative political system that reflects Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and regional identities.

As Afenifere gears up for further mobilization, the organization has called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and committed to preserving democratic principles. Their stance against unitarianism is poised to spark wider political discourse on the future of governance in Nigeria, especially at the grassroots level.