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Tag: Afenifere

  • Save lone Christian girl from Boko Haram’s captivity now, PFN, Afenifere tell Buhari

    The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to speed up actions in saving the last Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu still held in Boko Haram’s captivity.

    Recall that 104 of the schoolgirls were freed and had since been reunited with their families last week.

    However, the remaining girl, Leah Sharibu was not released because of her refusal to renounce Christianity for Islam.

    Afenifere also called on the United Nations to investigate incessant killings by Fulani herdsmen across the country.

    Afenifere’s position was contained in a communique issued at the end of its monthly meeting held at the residence of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while the PFN’s was contained in a statement signed by its National President, Revd. Felix Omobude, on Tuesday.

    The pan-Yoruba group’s communiqué was read to journalists by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin.

    The Afenifere called on the Federal Government to ensure that the only Dapchi, Yobe State schoolgirl who still being held captive by Boko Haram, Leah Sharibu, and the remaining Chibok girls were rescued.

    Odumakin said, “We want the Nigerian Government to make the type of arrangement they made to free the 111 schoolgirls to free Leah Sharibu and the remaining Chibok schoolgirls in the custody of their captors. The Buhari administration cannot beat its chest that it is better than Jonathan’s government when these girls are still in captivity.”

    The PFN said that the continuous stay of Leah in bondage confirmed its worries that the activities of the terrorists and “killer herdsmen” had a “religious undertone.”

    The PFN, therefore, urged the Federal Government to do its best in order to ensure that the Dapchi girl returned home unhurt.

    The statement read in part, “What Leah Sharibu is going through has further confirmed our worries that the activities of Boko Haram and killer herdsmen have a religious undertone.

    “This kind of thing should not be happening in a free and democratic nation like Nigeria. It is really unacceptable.

    “We also call on her captors to release her unconditionally. The Federal Government must ensure her release just like the other girls.”

    The Christian organisation, however, called on the international community and friends of Nigeria to assist the country in facilitating the safe release of the girl and reunite her with her family.

    The PFN also urged Christians in the country to continue to offer prayers for her freedom.

    Afenifere said there was a need for the international community to investigate the killings by herdsmen and prevent the development from degenerating into a full-blown civil war in Nigeria.

    Afenifere, which noted that some people in some parts of the country were making pro-killer comments without any of them arrested by the government, called on the Federal Government to ensure disarmament of the killer Fulani herdsmen and reorganisation of the security organisations in the country.

    The group said, “The primary duty of any government is to protect lives and property and any government that cannot do that is not a government. With this and the claim from Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, it is clear that there is a state-aided genocide going on in Nigeria at the moment and with all these statements, from those who should stop it, making pro-killer comments, it is clear that there is no remedy in the Nigerian state as presently constituted.

    “We demand from the Nigerian authorities the immediate disarmament of the exclusive terror machine in the hands of Fulani herdsmen and the reorganisation of the architecture of security of Nigeria to reflect federal character.

    “We also ask the United Nations’ rapporteurs on genocide to investigate what is going on in Nigeria because if this disaster degenerates into a full scale war, the international community would have a serious problem on its hands.”

     

  • ‘Herdsmen calling for war’ says Afenifere over invasion, destruction of Falae’s farm

    ‘Herdsmen calling for war’ says Afenifere over invasion, destruction of Falae’s farm

    Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere has reacted to yesterday’s invasion, destruction of the farm of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Olu Falae, located at Ilado near Akure, the Ondo State capital, by herdsmen.

    Reacting, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin said: “It is continuation of the declaration of war by armed Fulani herdsmen, who have been terrorising communities and are now burning farmlands.

    Now, they have gone to Falae’s farm. These people have made up their mind to go to war or have their way and the authority has refused to call them to order.

    The latest on Falae’s farm is clearly unacceptable, an aggression by the Fulani and they should be rest assured that the Yoruba nation will not take it likely. “If they think that with all these they are doing, they will have one inch of land for cattle colony in any part of Yoruba land, they should forget it.”

    Meanwhile, Olu Falae Falae’s personal assistant, Captain Moshood Raji (retd) has confirmed the incident to newsmen.

    He said the herdsmen destroyed five hectares of oil palm plantation worth millions of Naira.

    Recall that Falae’s farm had, before now, been invaded by the Fulani herdsmen destroying crops worth millions of Naira as the invaders grazed their cattle.

    Reacting to the destruction, Afenifere said the Yoruba nation will not take the onslaught lightly while stressing that herdsmen are calling for war by their actions.

    The former Minister of Finance, however, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to call the herdsmen to order, just as the Commissioner of Police in the state, Olugbenga Adeyanju visited the farm to assess the extent of destruction. He said the damage was much and that the fire was still raging at press time.

    Falae lamented that “The Fulani herdsmen have again burnt my farm. They do that every year. As I speak to you, the Akure Police Area commander, my Personal Assistant and farm manager have visited the place.

    The state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has called me to confirm the incident and has also promised to visit the farm tomorrow.”

     

  • FG’s plan to re-arrest Kanu is a case of double standard – Afenifere

    Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere on Sunday said the Federal Government was being biased in handling the case of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnmadi Kanu.

    Afenifere’s publicity secretary, Yinka Odumakin said the government has refused to arrest northern youth who issued a quit notice, but planning to arrest Kanu.

    It said Kanu’s re-arrest would overheat the polity.

    Odumakin said, “The idea of re-arresting Kanu will overheat the polity, more so when youths in the north that issued a notice to quit were not arrested. Even after the Kaduna State Governor and the Vice President ordered their arrest, the police did nothing.

    “The Minister of Internal Affairs said the youths were not arrested because they claimed they were misquoted, but a few days ago, the youths in the presence of some governors withdrew the order.”

    Afenifere urged the government to shun double standards and evenly apply the law equally in all situations.

    The group said, “The government is giving the impression that what is red line for someone from a particular region is green line for someone in another part of the country; I think it is better the government engaged to bring down the tension rather than strong-arm tactics that would overheat the polity.”

    “There is a clear double standard and that is not good for inclusiveness. What the government should do is ensure even application of the law and engage more youths more rather indulge in sabre-rattling,” Afenifere said.

  • Restructuring: Northern elders are enemies of progress – Afenifere

    Restructuring: Northern elders are enemies of progress – Afenifere

    Spokesperson of Yoruba social-political organization, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, has stated that Northern leaders who are against the restructuring of Nigeria are enemies of progress.

    He said some powerful forces in the North do not want the North and other regions in the country to move forward.

    Odumakin accused the North of always wanting to suppress others, noting that every part of the country will live in prosperity if restructuring takes place.

    He told the Sun, “It’s unfortunate that the core North bluntly refused to see reasons why we need to restructure Nigeria.

    “Their style is if I don’t make it, you must not make it.

    “All they want is for everybody to be at a level where you can’t develop, where you can’t make progress.

    “All they want is amass and control. They believe they can only prosper in inequity, that they cannot prosper under a new arrangement.

    “It’s a fallacy. We need restructuring to enjoy prosperity.

    “At the 2014 National Conference, we looked at the map of Nigeria. There is no part of Nigeria that will not live in prosperity and happiness if we practice true federalism.

    “The mineral deposit in Niger State alone, if we practice true federalism will make that state richer than some countries.

    “With restructuring, they will prosper better. The North should stop looking for what is not there. They are searching for oil in Lake Chad.

    “The mineral deposits in the North will fetch them much more than oil. In the area of education, they make the system uneven.

    “A child from the South is given admission with higher marks, while his counterpart from the North gains admission with lower marks in the common entrance exam.

    “What is common in that entrance? It’s uncommon entrance. It’s from that narrow point of view that they look at things.

    “That section of the country is not interested in the prosperity and advancement of anybody.”

  • Sir Olaniwun Ajayi and Afenifere

    Sir Olaniwun Ajayi and Afenifere

    By Opeyemi Agbaje

    I use “Afenifere ” in this tribute in multiple meanings. In its literal meaning, “Afenifere” may mean those who wish good things (blessings, good fortune, goodness or more broadly prosperity) on others as they wish themselves. In this sense, Afenifere virtually approximates to the Biblical injunction of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ to do unto others as you would have them do to you (Matthew 7: 12). The opposites of “Afenifere” are “Kenimani” (those who may have prospered, but want no one else to experience prosperity!)

    “Afenifere” also refers to a specific political movement rooted in Western Nigeria, founded by the great Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his lifetime which took formal manifestation as Action Group (AG) and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the first and second republics respectively, and the Yoruba socio-political organisation named “Afenifere” which sought to sustain the heritage of Awolowo’s politics and ideology in Nigeria, and especially within Awolowo’s Western Nigeria base. There may also be a sense in which “Afenifere” refers to all true-born Yoruba persons in line with the traditions of community and honour, in which all proper sons of Oduduwa are “Omoluabi” who uphold the values and interests of their shared community. What however is clear is that whichever context or meaning we speak of, the great Yoruba and Nigerian Icon, Chief (Sir) Olaniwun Ajayi was troubled about the fate and direction of Afenifere as he departed this world.

    There are multiple accounts and evidences of just departed Baba Olaniwun’s concerns, especially as his exit from the worldly stage became imminent-the refrain that I have heard most commonly is “what will I tell Chief Awolowo?” Papa Awolowo, of course rests in the great beyond since his passage in 1986 exactly thirty years, before his loyal and committed disciple. Chief Ajayi’s concerns were well-founded – Afenifere, the organisation is hobbled and divided, reduced to a rump of elders in their 70s and 80s, with a few itinerant younger men; Afenifere the ethnic group is seemingly rudderless and in disarray, disunited and receding even in terms of quality education, governance, prosperity and development, in which it led to the rest of Nigeria and Africa six decades ago; and “Afenifere” the value system is eroded-Yorubaland fast losing its values of integrity, dignity, honour, community and diligence and being progressively (actually retrogressively!!!) replaced by “Nigerian” values-corruption, prebendal politics, dysfunctional education and an “alright Sir!” ethos!!! The biggest good that can and will come from Baba Olaniwun Ajayi’s passage is a new “Afenifere” awakening and the re-invigoration and renewal of our cherished values.

    I’ve read three books written by Sir Olaniwun Ajayi-“Isara Afotamodi: My Jerusalem”, “This House of Oduduwa Must Not Fall” and “Nigeria: Political Power Imbalance-The Bane and Chain Down of Nigeria’s Progress and Development”. Together they give the reader a vivid sense of his passion and commitment to his beloved Isara in Remo, Ogun State; his family, the Methodist Church, Yoruba land, Afenifere and Nigeria.

    Baba Olaniwun Ajayi in “Isara Afotamodi” describes his home town as a “a town fenced and fortified by rocks ; a fortress impenetrable to enemies by invasion” and speaks of the pride of Isara indigenes and descendants in the cognomen “Afotamodi”. He compares Isara to Jerusalem (“just as mountains surround Jerusalem, all entry points into my town are hilly, and the points of ascendance are either rivers or streams”) and declares, “I am eternally grateful to my Maker that it is from this town that I take root”. Throughout the book his Christian and specifically Methodist education and heritage shines forth despite its location within a previously idolatrous context.

    In “This House of Oduduwa Must Not Fall”, Sir Ajayi’s pre-occupation as the title suggests was with the “travails of the Yoruba in Nigerian politics” from British colonial administration, through the first republic (when the Mid-West was excised from Western Nigeria, a state of emergency declared, the AG split with external support and Chief Awolowo jailed for treason), through to the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election of MKO Abiola to contemporary times. In chapter 6 “The political chaos in Yorubaland and the unlearned lessons” Chief Ajayi reflected on the AG crisis and the mis-steps of Chief S.L Akintola and spoke of contemporary developments: “In the recent past, young ones in Afenifere and the Alliance for Democracy took it upon themselves to insult, abuse, denigrate and degrade the elders.” Yet in the last days of his life, Baba reached out to and visited those who had offended him and his colleagues in a last, valiant effort to unite his people before he left.

    Sir Olaniwun Ajayi’s concern with the unresolved “national question” was also in focus in the same book as well as in his last publication, “Nigeria: Political Power Imbalance-The Bane and Chain Down of Nigeria’s Progress and Development”. Whatever imbalances he wrote about when the book was published just last year in 2015, things have gotten much worse perhaps prompting the urgency and near despair with which he urged his younger compatriots to act. In a fourth book, his memoirs, “Lest We Forget”, Baba tells his entire life story-his birth in Isara to Benjamin Awoyemi Ajayi and Marian Efundolamu Ajayi; his love and marriage to his beloved late Adunola who Ajayi describes as “saint…rock-ribbed partner…affectionate friend”; his Wesleyan education and Methodist heritage; his career as a teacher, qualification as a corporate lawyer and then legal practice; the stormy days in the politics of the West and Nigeria; and the NADECO days under Abacha.

    Chief Olaniwun Ajayi was born on Wednesday April 8, 1925 in his father’s “parlour” in a small, thatch roof, wood house at Gbasemo Compound, Itun Abe, Isara, Remo. He died a giant, in far more auspicious circumstances, on November 4 2016. He was a great leader of Isara, a proud son of Remo, a committed Methodist and Christian, an eternal Afenifere and staunch son of Oduduwa, and a distinguished Nigerian. He was a very successful lawyer and founded the leading law firm of Olaniwun Ajayi LLP. As a tribute to Baba Olaniwun Ajayi, Afenifere will rise again.