By Kamil Opeyemi
The Yoruba socio-Political group Afenifere on Wednesday abrogated the position of Acting Leader which was being held by Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
Adebanjo, an unrepentant critic of President Bola Tinubu, had held the position of the Acing Leader since the ailing Pa Rueben Fasoranti relinquished the position of the leader due to ill-health.
Fasoranti had announced his decision to step down in 2021.
The group, at a meeting in Akure, the Ondo state capital, also set up what it called Elders Caucus.
The Elders’ Caucus will now comprise of Fasoranti is the chairman of the elders’ caucus while some of the members of the group include Adebanjo, Olu Falae, Senator Cornelius Adebayo, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Seinde Arogbofa, Senator Kofo Bucknor-Akerele, Prince Ladigbolu, Lt. Gen Alani, Akinrinade (Rtd.), Maj. Gen. Olu Bajowa (Rtd.), Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, and Prof. Banji Akintoye.
Others are Dr. S.A.J Ibikunle, Chief Femi Aluko, Prince Alonge, Dr Yomi Finnih, Prince Olusi,Hon Korede Duyile, Prof Ropo Sekoni, Hon Lekan Alabi and Dr. Kunle Olajide.
A communique issued after the meeting and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, explained that a motion on the need to abrogate the dual positions of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader was moved by Dr. S. J. Ibikunle from Ogun State and was seconded by members from Ekiti, Kwara, Oyo and Ondo States.
“When the matter was thrown to the general house, the motion was unanimously carried,” he said.
The group also resolved that there was an urgent need to rework the Security Architecture of the country to ensure that Nigerians live and move about without the fear of being kidnapped or harassed in any way.
“Such reworking should include giving states and local government councils that so desire to establish own police services with all the requisite powers to function as such.
“Doing so would check, if not totally stop, the incidences of kidnapping and sundry banditry now ravaging the land.
“The unfortunate blast in Ibadan clearly underscores the need to allow the federating units in the country to control mineral resources in their respective areas with particular reference to mining and exploration.
“The reasoning behind this was that had it been that states were in control of mining, for instance, Oyo State government was likely to know how explosives were being moved around.
“Such would have made last week’s horrendous blast that claimed many lives, traumatised hundreds of people and destroyed properties running into Billions of Naira preventable.”
According to the Communique, the meeting took note of the report that Miyetti Allah Have set up a 1,144-strong Nomad Vigilante militia in Nasarawa ostensibly to provide security for Fulani herders.
“Afenifere was of the opinion that Miyetti Allah, being a non-state actor, should not have power to do a thing like that. It, therefore, considered the action of the Department of State Security (DSS) to checkmate Miyetti Allah on the issue as timely and in order.
“The meeting expressed the hope that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda would be giving the necessary push so that life can be easier for the people of Nigeria.
“Among the means of achieving this are taking steps that would strengthen the value of our currency, the Naira, reduce costs of energy (fuel in particular) through local production of petroleum products as well as regular supply of electricity.”