Afenifere appoints new NEC chairman

The Pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere, has appointed Oba Olu Falae as the Chairman of its National Executive Committee.

Falae, a respected elder statesman and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), is also the traditional ruler of Ilu-Abo in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

His appointment was announced during a caucus meeting held at the residence of Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State. The gathering brought together prominent members of the group from across Yoruba-speaking states, including Kogi and Kwara.

Notable figures in attendance included former Ondo State governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and Chief Tokunbo Ajasin, underscoring the significance of the meeting and Falae’s new role in the organization.

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Reading the communique at the end of the meeting to journalists, National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi said the appointment of Oba Falae was to reinvigorate the organisation with a view to ensure that the “House of Oduduwa is back on track to project the Yoruba mandate.”

Afenifere also called on the federal government under President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to set the machinery in motion to restructure the country as a matter of urgency.

The group which decried the security situation in the country, noted that security situation in the country was getting more worrisome.

According to Afenifere, “Bandits are, in certain situations, so emboldened that they even go into people’s homes to abduct them as happened to Oba James Ogunyanda Ilufemiloye, the Obalohun of Okoloke in Kogi State.

“Mr. Nelson Adegboyigi was similarly abducted right in front of his house in Ifon, Ose local government area of Ondo State earlier this month. He was eventually killed even after ransom was collected.

“Reports of violent attacks on communities and settlements continue to occur especially in the Benue, Plateau, Nassarawa States and in some other parts of the North.

“In the light of the foregoing, Afenifere is reiterating its longstanding advocacy for the immediate take-off of State Police.

“Here, note is taken of various insinuations that insecurity is becoming endemic because of the complicity at the political, military and community levels.”

While congratulating President Tinubu on his two years in office , “Afenifere took note of the good intention of the Federal Government on the initiative for the National Forestry Guards, but the organization is of the opinion that the implementation should be by the States as part of the decentralization of security architecture.

“Afenifere thanked the President for releasing funds for the rehabilitation of the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa Expressway.”

Meanwhile, the new Afenifere NEC Chairman, Oba Falae has promised to unify the organisation.

“We’ll succeed in bringing the other groups, everybody together. It has been my fortune to have brought together the two factions in the Yoruba ruling house in Akure dynasty. I was able to bring the two together, and that was why we were able to produce the present Deji of Akure.

“So, with that experience, I intend to do all I can to bring all factions of Afenifere together in Papa’s lifetime,” Falae said.