The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has again called for the overhaul of security architecture in the country in the interest of peace and development of the country.
This was contained in a communique issued after the group’s caucus meeting, held in Akure, the Ondo state capital, the country home of its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
According to the Yoruba foremost group, the Security Architecture of the country needs to be overhauled to ensure that Nigerians are able to live and move about without the fear of being kidnapped or harassed in any way.
In the communique signed by the group National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said that such reworking should include accelerating actions on the decision of the government to have state police.
“There is also the urgent need to include modern technology more comprehensively in the efforts at combating banditry and terrorism. Doing so would check, if not totally stop, the incidences of kidnapping and sundry banditry now ravaging the land.
“Afenifere also advocated for the licensing of states’ security networks code-named Amotekun.in Yoruba-speaking states to carry lethal weapons. This can be done preparatory to the setting up of State Police.
The group also called for greater cooperation between Amotekun corps and other security agencies, calling for “command and control posts to be installed across all the local government areas so that information can be shared in real-time as is done in many developed and not-so-developed countries”
Afenifere in the communique also implored local governments in the country to ensure that their people derive maximum benefits from the resources coming to them both from the federal allocation as well as from those they generate internally.
“The meeting took note of the desire by the federal government for local governments to have fiscal autonomy as exemplified by the Supreme Court Ruling on the issue as well as other steps being taken by the federal government.
“Afenifere enjoined the government to expedite action in this regard so that the policy will become operational as soon as possible”.
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The group who noted the shortage in the availability of food items and the high price said “In view of the high costs of food items in the country, Afenifere urged states and local governments to make things easy for local farmers by providing them with needed resources – even at subsidized rates.
“This will not only make foodstuffs more available; it will also enhance the council’s finances and boost the local economy.
“Afenifere called on President Bola Tinubu to leverage on his known democratic credential as a federalist by quickening the country’s realization of true federalism as soon as possible.
“The meeting took note of the efforts being made by the federal government to revamp the economy.
“In view of the pivotal roles that energy plays not only in an economy but even in the well-being of the people, the meeting deliberated on efforts being made in this respect with particular reference to electricity and fossil energy – petroleum products in particular”
The communique read: “In view of the strategic position that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Plc and Independent Oil Marketers occupy in the oil sector, Afenifere strongly called on them to let the interest of the nation, nay the interest of the people of Nigeria, be uppermost in their minds and actions.
“Afenifere is very persistent on the need to ensure that Yoruba language is used more as a medium of communication.
“The body specifically called on Governments in Yoruba-speaking states to make Yoruba the medium of teaching at elementary levels of our education: kindergarten/nursery, primary and junior secondary schools. Afenifere also urged Legislatures in Yoruba-speaking states to make Yoruba the language of conducting their legislative businesses as much as possible”
“The meeting commiserated with Engr. Oluwaseyi Makinde, Oyo State Governor, on the demise of his elder brother, Engineer Sunday Makinde.
“The meeting prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul and strong hearts for those he left behind to bear the loss”.
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