Afenifere, pan-Yoruba socio-political group, has passed a vote of confidence on and affirmed elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, as the Leader of the group.
This was as it also affirmed Oba Oladipo Olaitan as the Deputy Leader of the organisation.
The affirmation was contained in a communique issued by Afenifere at the end of its monthly General Meeting, held at the Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State country home of Chief Adebanjo, on Tuesday.
Afenifere also arrived at several other resolutions in the communique jointly signed by Adebanjo and the National Publicity Secretary, Mọ́gàjí Gboyega Adejumo.
The Meeting was attended by delegates from the member states and, after intensive deliberations on the state of the nation, Afenifere resolved as follows:
That it received the reports of the visit of a delegation of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum on the Christmas eve terrorists attacks in Plateau State
“Afenifere received reports of the visit of the delegation of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum to the government and people of Plateau State and the Middle Belt on the killings by terrorists in several parts of Plateau State on the eve of Christmas last year.
“The delegation, which was led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the Leader of Afenifere and Deputy Leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, included other leaders across the federation.
“The delegation was received by the Plateau State governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, traditional rulers, leaders of thought in Plateau State and other parts of the Middle Belt.
“It was resolved by all that the country needed be urgently restructured as a true federation with a new constitution, using the reports of the 2014 National Conference as minimum template.
“The imperative of state police was emphasised in the overall security of the nation.
“On the Ibadan explosion: The Meeting further received reports of its delegation led by the Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, to the government and people of Oyo State on the recent Ibadan explosion.
“The delegation and the host Governor Seyi Makinde noted that the unfortunate incident was made possible under the pseudo-federal military constitution where explosives of that magnitude may be used in states without regulations by the state government.
“On the Amotekun South-West Security Networks: The governor briefed the delegation on the activities of the Amotekun Security Corps.
“The delegation noted the immense contribution of the Amotekun initiative, commended and urged the governments of all South-West states to fully equip the Corps in a greater proportion of weaponry than available to terrorists now ravaging our land.
“On increased terrorists attacks in Nigeria and Yorubaland: The Meeting was incensed by the activities of terrorists all over the country and its incursion into Yoruba land, the latest being the gruesome and sacrilegious murder of two obas in Ekiti State.
“The Meeting noted the unfortunate kid gloves with which the Federal Government continued to treat security matters and therefore called on the people to rise in their own defence stating that no action is illegitimate in self defence.
“For the umpteenth time, the Meeting reiterated that Afenifere is the Yoruba interpretation of Action Group, a political party founded in 1951 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his colleagues on social welfarist ideology.
“The Group is constituted by those who subscribe to its ideology. Afenifere is thus not a Yoruba socio-cultural group or social club of Yoruba.
“The General Meeting as the highest organ, expressed the appreciation of Afenifere for the untiring activities of its leadership in line with the objectives and aspirations of its founding fathers.
“The Meeting thus resolved and passed a vote of confidence on Chief Ayo Adebanjo as the Leader and Oba Oladipo Olaitan as the Deputy Leader of the organisation.
“The Meeting approved the following appointments: Mr. Alade Rotimi-John (Assistant Secretary General) and Prince Justice Jadesola Faloye (Assistant National Publicity Secretary).
Also present at the Meeting were Dr. Femi Okurounmu, Senator Gbenga Kaka, Chief Supo Shonibare, Chief Sola Ebiseni, Mr Tola Mobolurin, Pastor Adebayo Adenekan, Mr Segun Ojo, Reverend Goke Omigbodun, Chief Mrs Bola Doherty, Chief Gbola Adetunji and Mr Dele Farotimi, among several others.
