The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has appointed Oba Olu Falae as the Chairman of its National Executive Committee.
Oba Falae is a former Secretary to the government of the federation and the traditional ruler of Ilu-Abo in Akure North, Ondo State.
The appointment was made at Afenifere’s monthly meeting, held at the Akure home of its national leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, on Tuesday.
Speaking after the meeting, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said Pa Fasoranti made the appointment to reposition the group.
“Oba Falae’s appointment is meant to reinvigorate the organisation with a view to ensuring that the House of Oduduwa is back on track to project the Yoruba mandate,” he said.
In a communiqué released after the meeting, Afenifere insisted that restructuring is the best way to solve the country’s problems.
“We are therefore calling 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 stated.
They urged Tinubu to make restructuring a key focus as his government enters its third year in office.
On security, the group raised concerns over rising kidnappings and killings across the country.
They mentioned the abduction and killing of traditional ruler Oba James Ogunyanda Ilufemiloye in Kogi State and the killing of APC chieftain Nelson Adegboyigiwa in Ondo State.
“Reports of violent attacks on communities and settlements continue to occur, especially in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa States and in some other parts of the North,” the communiqué read.
Afenifere renewed its call for the creation of the state police to help address the insecurity.
The group also congratulated Tinubu on his second year in office and urged him to focus on solving issues affecting the people.
“While we take note of the reports by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, on inflation, we wish to emphasise that food inflation and transport costs are still very burdensome. We therefore implore the federal government to take urgent action to ease the situation,” they said.
On environmental issues, the group welcomed the plan to create a National Forestry Guard but said the states should be the ones to implement it as part of decentralising security.
They also thanked the President for approving funds for the repair of the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa Expressway.
The meeting was attended by members from Yoruba-speaking states, including Kogi and Kwara, as well as former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, and Chief Tokunbo Ajasin.
Speaking on his new role, Oba Falae thanked Pa Fasoranti and promised to unite all factions within Afenifere.
“By the grace of God and with the support of Afenifere and the Yoruba nation, we’ll succeed in bringing the other groups, everybody together,” he said.
