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Tag: Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG)

  • ARG condemns Fasoranti’s daughter’s killing

    Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) on Saturday condemned the murder of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, the daughter of elder statesman Pa Ruben Fasoranti.

    The group urged the Southwest  leaders to rise to the challenge of increasing insecurity in the region.

    ARG, in a statement by its chairman, Olawale Oshun, said the onus is on the governors in particular to rise to the occasion.

    He said: “We share in this colossal loss and condole with the bereaved family, especially Pa Fasoranti and Mrs. Olakunrin’s nucleus family. This loss is a burden too heavy and a steep price to pay for steadfastly serving this nation and our people.

    “Mrs. Olakunrin’s death at the hands of these savage herdsmen could not but have been part of a grand plan to break the soul of Yorubaland and set the roof on fire. But the fire this time will consume the perpetrators and their collaborators.”

    According to the group, Yoruba governors and the socio-political leadership zhould actcwith speed because it is now evident that the Central government and its Central Policing System clinging have failed woefully to guarantee security.

    Oshun added: “Our governors must realise that they shall be held responsible, individually and collectively, should they fail to prioritise and support one another in securing their people. The time to act is now.

    Read Also: Buhari condoles with Pa Fasoranti over daughter’s death

    “Mrs Olakunrin’s is the latest victim of Nigeria’s wobbling and ineffective unitary governance structure.

    “The gory stories of kidnapping, maiming, raping and killing that emanate daily from Yoruba land should be stopped by whatever mean possible  including pursuing the dismantling of this unworkable unitary constitution and replacing it with a truly Federal Constitution.

    “The time for our governors to stand up on our behalf is now, they can count on the support of our people in their bid to drive out  these senseless criminals from our land.

    “It is only by doing this that Mrs. Olakunrin and all those murdered by these beasts would not have died in vain.”

     

  • ARG lauds peaceful polls

    Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) yesterday congratulated Yoruba people for peaceful conduct during the general elections.

    In a statement, the group said: “ARG affirms its support of the right of the people to elect whomsoever they wish as their constitutionally approved leader in a peaceful manner.

    ARG thank community leaders, particularly our royal fathers, for working ceaselessly to minimise conflict, while noting also the few reported violence in Oyo State, especially. We must continuously strengthen the foundation of law and order as the unique selling point of our region.

    “The murder of Hon. Temitope Olatoye blights our pride as a democratic people. We totally condemn it and therefore call on all designated authorities to ensure that justice is done.

    It added: “ARG congratulate all elected Governors and legislators for national and state legislatures for being found worthy of people’s trust and charge them to live by the mantra of “freedom for all, life more abundant”.

    “We enjoin them, as the custodian of people’s peaceful mandates, to entrench deeper the culture of peaceful coexistence and work collaboratively for regional integration.”

     

  • Petition against Buhari ’ll fail, says Ekiti ARG

    THE Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Ekiti State Chapter, has advised the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to shelve the idea of resorting to litigation to challenge the outcome of the just concluded election.

    The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation said the petition against President Muhammadu Buhari would fail because the electioneering process was devoid of any form of electoral malfeasance and its variance.

    The group dispelled the insinuation by the opposition parties that Muhammadu won the February 23 presidential election through fraudulent means.

    It said Buhari won the election because of his culture of integrity and honesty.

    The PDP had last week rejected the results of the election, branding it a sham and fraught with irregularities.

    A statement by ARG Publicity Secretary, Prince Michael Ogungbemi, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, urged the PDP candidate and major opponent in the election, Atiku, to support President Buhari in building a virile nation rather than pursuing futile mission.

    “Though, the ARG and APC knew that the proposed petition against Buhari will fail, going to court is not patriotic because it will constitute distraction to governance.

    “The petition is already dead on its arrival because it lacks merit and could not witness the test of justice,” it said.

    On the victory of APC in the three senatorial and six House of Representatives seats in Ekiti, ARG hinged the feat on Governor Kayode Fayemi’s performances in office within the last four months.

    Read also: Buhari, governors, others step up campaign

    The group said Fayemi has been able to bring expertise and experience to governance to correct the ills perpetrated by the former administration in the areas of education, social investment policy, security and infrastructure.

    “We congratulate President Buhari, who had once again enjoyed the legitimate mandate of Nigerian people in recognition of his honesty and integrity.

    “Also, we congratulate all senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect into the 9th Assembly. We look forward to having a season of robust, responsible and purposeful legislation, as well as non-rancorous and harmonious relationship between the Executive and Legislature to engender good governance.”

  • ARG, Afenifere back calls for restructuring, state police

    ARG, Afenifere back calls for restructuring, state police

    The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) on Tuesday backed calls by other groups for the restructuring of the federation to save the country from a looming implosion following many cries of marginalisation and Separatist’s agitations.

    The ARG’s Chairman, Hon. Olawale Oshun, made the group’s position known in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during their Town Hall Dialogue with the theme: “State of the nation: a conversation with ARG Leadership and Yoruba Intelligentsia.”

    Oshun said Nigeria must do away with the unitary government shrouded in a veil of federalism where the Federal government controls majority of the resources to the disadvantage of the federating units.

    He added that only those profiting from the flawed federal structure being operated in Nigeria would oppose calls for restructuring, stressing that were the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to be alive today to observe the fate that has befallen yorubaland, he would surely weep over it.

    “The over-bearing power of the Federal government is killing the States and Local governments. States are incapacitated; they should be allowed to control their resources to develop themselves instead of being tied to the apron strip of the Federal government.

    “Everything is collapsing because everybody solely depends on what is coming from the Federal government to survive and if we don’t restructure, we will continue to remain where we are today.

    “Those who are against restructuring are those who are benefitting from the rots in government. The Federal government must cease to control resources of the States.

    “If Yoruba leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo and others were to be alive today to see what is happening to the Yoruba nation today, they will weep for us,” he said.

    He however advised Nigerians to go about the calls for restructuring peacefully, saying the country must return to the regional government where each region would develop at its own pace.

    According to him, the Federal Government lacks the capacity to harness the country’s resources for her rapid socio – economic growth and development.

    “We need restructuring to progress and develop, the situation where FG will collect everything and beginning to give States small things to develop their States; we need to change from that. Regions should take of their resources for their growth,” Oshun said.

    Also, a renowned Columnist, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, urged  Yoruba nation to wake up from her slumber, declaring  that the race was living on past glory.

    Mrs Ademola – Okateju who was the keynote speaker, recalled that the Yoruba nation became the conscience of the country through education, but lamented that the region  has now taken the back seat.

    Speaking on “The Knowledge of Now: Pathways for the Yoruba,” she said the Nigerian education sector started witnessing setback after the discovery of oil in the 70s, noting that “Nigeria failed to plan for the future.”

    She also blamed the electorate for encouraging the nation’s politicians to exploit them by selling their votes.

    “A society gets the kinds of leaders they deserve. Our electorates are responsible for the rots in the country today, they encourage our leaders to steal and exploit them by selling their votes to the highest bidder.

    “People are not responsible, they have refused to hold the leaders accountable but rather they sing-praise corrupt leaders because of financial gains,” she said.

    Earlier, the Afenifere, a pan Yoruba socio – cultural organization, also joined other Nigerians to demand for the restructuring of the federation, fair and equitable resource control and distribution, establishment of state police and reformation of the nation’s judiciary to enhance rapid development as well as stem the tide of all forms of agitations across the country.

    The Acting State Chairman, the Ogun State chapter of Afenifere, Otunba Kunle Makekodunmi, made the group’s position known during their  meeting at the  Ogbo – Ijebu – Ode country home of the Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, where Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Senator Ayo Otegbola among others were in attendance.

    The group also mourned the passage of Mrs Omowunmi Akande, wife of former Governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, by observing a minute silence for the peaceful repose of her soul.

     

  • Prove to be worthy of people’s trust, Afenifere group urges Akeredolu

    Prove to be worthy of people’s trust, Afenifere group urges Akeredolu

    The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has congratulated Ondo State people for their faith in democracy and using the opportunity it presents to determine the direction of their future as a people.

    In a statement signed by its chairman, Hon. Olawale Oshun, ARG also praised the recipient of the people’s mandate, Barr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and other candidates for pursuing their ambitions within the ambit of the Rule of Law. Such maturity and statesmanship, the group said, is needed to restore the pride of Yoruba land.

    “We charge Akeredolu, as the guardian of the people’s mandate, to continuously and consistently prove himself a leader worthy of his people’s trust, by constantly communicating his vision and managing the resources of the state towards the development and wellbeing of Ondo State. We also charge the people to cooperate with the governor-elect, be alert to their civic duties and keep the government on that path of straight and narrow,” the statement said.

    “We trust that Akeredolu’s administration will prioritise good governance over partisanship, in the noble and progressive tradition of Awolowo and Ajasin, which is the main reason he earned our endorsement.”

    “Most importantly, we are hopeful that in active collaboration with the governors of other Southwest states, Akeredolu’s emergence will make easier the pursuit of regional integration, which has already gained credible momentum in our region. We therefore call on other Yoruba governors to embrace him into their fold, in the renewed spirit of brotherhood and reconciliation in Southwest.”

    “As a pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, ARG will continue to stand for and protect the interest of Yoruba people,” he group stated.

  • ‘Ondo’s non-participation in S’West integration retrogressive’

    THE Ondo State Chapter of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) at the weekend condemned Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, for not keying into the South West Integration Agenda.

    Besides, the group reiterated its call for the enthronement of true federalism in the governance of the country.

    At its quarterly general meeting held in Akure, the state capital, the ARG contended that this could only guarantee the enthronement of genuine democracy for rapid development of the country.

    In a communiqué signed by the group’s coordinator, Dr. BayoAdemodi, the group also condemned the friction that greeted the election of Chairman for the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

    ARG said the development is indicative of the malaise affecting the Nigerian system.

    It said, “The outcome of the election aptly demonstrates the dysfunctional unitary system of governance that has been imposed on a country of multiple nations, which has never worked out anywhere and which cannot work in Nigeria.”

    It expressed optimism that the Regional Integration Agenda, if well pursued with sincerity and commitment, would bring back the lost glory of the South West region.