September 30, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
A prominent Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization in Nigeria, Afenifere, has taken a bold stance against unitarianism in Nigerian politics.
In a recent communique issued after their monthly meeting, the group declared its resolve to mobilize and join forces with Nigerians to resist the practices of unitarianism.
At the meeting held at the residence of its leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, Afenifere expressed strong opposition to the introduction of a bill establishing a National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission (NILGEC).
The organization views this move as an attempt to concentrate power at the federal level, undermining the principles of federalism.
Afenifere’s Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, condemned the proposed NILGEC, stating it would exacerbate INEC’s inefficiencies and promote unitarianism.
“Afenifere notes the introduction of a bill to establish a National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission, NILGEC, for the conduct of Local Government elections and considers the idea as nothing but a monumental multiplication of INEC’s inefficiencies at 774 degrees.
“The idea of a federal agency to conduct local government elections is a veritable weapon in furtherance of the undisguised policy of complete capture and absolute unitarianism of the Nigerian Federation by the Central Government, a policy that has attained its crescendo under the present administration.
“Afenifere decries all forms of political rascality aimed at stifling democracy by the two tiers of the Nigerian government structure and equally condemns in unmistakable terms political gerrymandering pushing Nigeria into a unitary state by wielders of transient political power contrary to the existential covenant of federalism.
“The Federal Government and its INEC have proven not better at conducting the limited elections with which they are saddled by the Constitution.”
They argued that the federal government’s involvement in local government elections would stifle democracy and violate the covenant of federalism.
This stance is consistent with Afenifere’s history of advocating for regional autonomy and opposing centralized power.
The organization has been a vocal critic of policies threatening Nigeria’s federal structure
