Afenifere, a Pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, has named Oba Olu Falae as Chairman of its National Executive Committee.Afenifere appoints new NEC chairman, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
Chief Olu Falae, a respected elder statesman and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has been appointed to a new position.
As the traditional ruler of Ilu-Abo in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, his appointment was announced at a caucus meeting held at the residence of Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State, attended by prominent members of the group from Yoruba-speaking states, including Kogi and Kwara.
The presence of notable figures such as former Ondo State governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and Chief Tokunbo Ajasin underscored the importance of the meeting and Falae’s new role in the organization.
Comrade Jare Ajayi, National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, announced the appointment of Oba Falae while reading the communique at the end of the meeting to journalists, stating it was to revitalize the organisation and ensure the “House of Oduduwa is back on track to project the Yoruba mandate.”
Afenifere has urged the federal government under President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to initiate the country’s restructuring process as a matter of urgency, citing the worsening security situation in the country.
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 two years in office, Afenifere praised the Federal Government’s good intentions behind the National Forestry Guards initiative, but recommended that implementation be left to individual states as part of decentralizing the 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.
