The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has called on the Federal Government to launch an investigation into the sponsors behind the recent hunger protests, where some demonstrators were seen flying Russian flags and advocating for a military takeover.
In a communiqué issued after its Expanded National Executive Committee Meeting, Afenifere emphasized the need to uncover and expose those responsible for introducing foreign symbols into the protests. The statement was jointly signed by the group’s National Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye.
Afenifere stressed the importance of revealing the identities of those behind the display of foreign flags and called for a thorough investigation into the violation of rights during the protests, particularly focusing on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of demonstrators. The group urged the government to hold accountable anyone found culpable, including security agents.
The Yoruba group also warned the Federal Government not to dismiss the alleged involvement of foreign interests in Nigeria’s internal matters, noting that any evidence of such involvement or calls for military intervention in the country’s political affairs should be met with the full force of the law.
Addressing the threats to non-indigenes residing in certain parts of the country, Afenifere stated, “Governments at all levels should take immediate action against threats to any group in any part of the country, thoroughly investigate these incidents, and decisively deal with those found responsible, given the implications for the security, unity, and corporate existence of Nigeria.”
Afenifere reiterated the right of every Nigerian citizen to reside in any part of the country, saying, “Nigerians are widely dispersed across every state and geopolitical zone, irrespective of their ethnic identities.”
Commending President Bola Tinubu for his address to the nation on the hunger protests, the group expressed disappointment that “Tinubu failed to rise to the occasion in statesmanship, particularly with his hypocritical warning against those fanning the flames of ethnic disunity—a tactic often employed by some of his advisers and spokespersons.
Furthermore, he failed to concretely address the existential issues raised by the protesters.”
The group criticized the government and its agents for responding to the protests with threats and intimidation of the organizers, mocking revered traditional institutions, and exploiting ethnic and religious divisions.
Afenifere urged President Tinubu to view the nationwide protests, the diversity of participation, and the outcomes in different regions as a clear mandate for restructuring the Nigerian Federation.
They called for the immediate initiation of irreversible mechanisms to achieve true federalism, as a means to ensure unity, peaceful coexistence, and development in a nation where no individual or group is oppressed.
The group also praised “those security agents who professionally ensured the civil treatment of demonstrators and protected them from attacks by apparent hired gangs.”
Afenifere strongly condemned “the display of foreign flags and interests in Nigeria’s purely domestic matters and the surreptitious calls for military intervention in the nation’s political affairs.”
They made it clear that “NEVER AGAIN will the military be tolerated in the politics and governance of Nigeria.”
The group also criticised “the statement attributed to agents of the Federal Government suggesting that refined petroleum products from the Dangote refinery are inferior to those imported from abroad.
Such statements, without proposing solutions, are treasonous, especially in Nigeria’s current state of economic and political emergency, as they serve personal and foreign interests.”
Given the corruption hindering efforts to revamp government refineries, Afenifere suggested that the government consider privatizing the refineries and deliberately encourage local refining, particularly in the Niger Delta.
They also called for the establishment of quality control mechanisms to ensure optimal local refining and affordable access to refined petroleum products for citizens.
Afenifere argued that it would be cheaper, more transparent, and more effective to have the NNPC sell crude oil to Dangote and other local refineries in Naira and at subsidized rates, rather than subsidizing refined products from overseas, which is often associated with corruption and capital flight.
Regarding the lowering and stabilization of foreign exchange rates, import duties, and interest rates, the group stated, “Since the government supplies foreign exchange to the market, it should increase the amount supplied by all means possible to bring down the price, even if it requires debt rescheduling and moratoriums.”
They also called for a reduction in interest rates to spur economic growth, noting that Nigeria’s inflation is cost-driven, not demand-driven.
On the demand to lower food prices, Afenifere suggested this should be addressed by increasing food production, not importation. “Our farmlands and farmers must be secured from attacks through restructuring and decentralizing policing.
With the safe and peaceful return of farmers, it would take less than a year to grow all our staple foods, ending hunger within a year.”
Afenifere also urged the government to “address issues affecting our crude oil production and revenues by providing more security, accurately metering oil production, and curbing corruption.”
In the long term, they called on the government to develop a heavy manufacturing sector that can provide mass employment. This could be achieved through the accelerated development of a railway network, which would spur growth across all sectors of the economy.
Finally, the group urged the President to not only accelerate the implementation of the Orosanye Report but also to curtail wasteful, profligate, and self-serving expenditures by public officers.
“The waste of our commonwealth on expensive cars, official jets, humongous allowances, and renovations of official residences must stop,” Afenifere said.
