The Afenifere Caucus meeting, held at the Akure residence of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, on Tuesday, resulted in a seven-point communiqué made available to journalists on Thursday. The meeting, chaired by Oba Olu Falae, was attended by representatives from various states, including Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Kogi, Osun, and Ondo. The communiqué stated that Afenifere's decision to endorse Tinubu followed a review of his administration and the current political situation in Nigeria.
Afenifere cited Tinubu's commitment to restructuring Nigeria, strengthening the economy, deepening democracy, and tackling insecurity as reasons for the endorsement. The organisation expressed confidence that Tinubu would enhance economic prosperity and inclusivity, restore hope, and make Nigeria a country citizens can be proud of. This endorsement comes days after Sola Ebiseni, then Secretary-General of Afenifere, publicly declared support for Tinubu's second-term bid and resigned from the Labour Party.
The organisation demanded an immediate and aggressive security operation to flush out criminal elements from forests and borderlands in Oyo State and other parts of the country. Afenifere expressed concern over treasonable threats by bandits and terrorists to disrupt the forthcoming general elections. The group warned that Nigeria's democratic process must not be derailed by criminal elements and charged the Federal Government and security agencies to create a peaceful environment for voting.
Afenifere also condemned recent attacks on military/security bases, including the Operation Burst base along the Igbeti-Igboho Road in Oyo State. The group called for an immediate and aggressive security sweep of the affected axis to permanently flush out criminal elements. They urged the investigation of alleged collaborators of bandits and profiling of sponsors of illegal mining, citing concerns over allegations that some people were forced from their ancestral lands for mining activities.
The organisation urged the Federal Government to support state governments that have enacted anti-open grazing laws, enabling them to enforce the laws without delay or encumbrances. Afenifere cited persistent farmer-herder clashes in remote border communities and fringes of Yorubaland, particularly in Kwara, Ondo, Osun, and Ogun states. They specifically mentioned areas such as Ibarapa, Egbeda, and Oke-Ogun in Oyo State as places where clashes remain a concern.
The meeting also renewed Afenifere's commitment to promoting the Yoruba language and ensuring it is more widely spoken and used in verbal and literary communication. The organisation announced plans to roll out programmes towards achieving this objective, including the establishment of a Yoruba Language Renaissance Trust Fund. This initiative aims to strengthen the use and preservation of the Yoruba language.
Key stakeholders, including former Secretary-General of Afenifere, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, former Ondo State governor, Dr Segun Mimiko, and former Osun State deputy governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore, were present at the meeting. The endorsement of Tinubu's second-term bid by Afenifere is seen as a significant development in the lead-up to the 2027 presidential election.
Key points
- Afenifere endorses President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office.
- The organisation demands peaceful polls and stronger action against bandits.
- Afenifere supports anti-open grazing laws and promotion of the Yoruba language.
