The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has described January 17 as the greatest day in the history of modern Yoruba society, being the day the Action Group (AG)’s education policy was launched.
The pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, said the policy remains an enduring legacy.
The statement quoted Emeritus Prof Richard Sklar who, in writing about the policy in 1963, said: “Possibly no single decision of the decade prior to independence had been more fateful for the development of the political economy of Nigeria”.
The group urged Southwest governors and local government administrators on the need for urgent education reforms.
“Our leaders need to re-adopt Awolowo’s welfarist stance.”
The group listed what it called three dividends of the policy by virtue of which it said “Awolowo will continue to be the reference point for political leadership.”
“First, the policy liberated the womenfolk and resolved the issue of gender parity even before any global affirmative action began.
“Second, the policy made education the pivot upon which the organisation of the society revolved.
“Third, the education policy proved also to be prophetic in its own right. Little did anybody know that an outright strange, if not stupid, philosophy of governance would soon ravage Nigeria through military might, seeking to subsume every other cultures under it.”
Tag: ARG
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ARG commemorates Awo’s policy
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ARG condemns invitation of Kwara monarch by state security agency
Following the invitation of the traditional monarch of Apado town in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State by the state Intelligence Bureau for a ‘security meeting’, scheduled for Monday, December 5, Pan-Yoruba group, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has called on President Muhhamadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies in the country, to intervene and stop what it described as a dangerous dimension.
According to the Publicity Secretary of ARG, Kwara State chapter, Chief Jayeola Omotosho, the invitation of Oba Titus Suberu Ajibola, the Alapado of Apado, over the use of his photograph in an almanac that contained other Yoruba traditional rulers in the predominantly Yoruba local government areas of Kwara State was a ploy to silence the people, who he said ‘are only demanding for their rights’.
On how the photograph of the monarch was used in the almanac, Omotosho explained that a Yoruba Islamic cleric in Ilorin, who saw the need to bring together the people, printed the almanac and used the photographs of the traditional rulers.
“An enlightened Islamic scholar, who happens to be a Yoruba man and a Chief Imam, in order to further strengthen the relationship among the Yoruba people in the state, printed the almanac and decided to use the photographs of the Yoruba traditional rulers from five local government areas of Aasa, Moro, Ilorin West, Ilorin East and Ilorin South local government areas respectively. He also included the photographs of all Yoruba governors in the almanac. You can therefore ask, what is the sin of the Kabiyesi of Apado to warrant an invitation by a security agency?”
“Our position is that everybody should have their own rights. We all know that, by accident of history, the Emir is placed as number one, but other Yoruba traditional rulers too should have their own rights. In five local government areas, there is no other graded chief except the Emir of Ilorin. And now, the Yoruba are demanding for their rights. It should on the principle of live and let live,” he said.
Also speaking on the invitation, Oba Ajibola said he was surprised to receive a letter from the security agency inviting him for a security meeting over the use of his photograph in an almanac, which he said he knew nothing about.
“I was written a letter to come for a security meeting with the state intelligence bureau over a calendar that bears my photograph and those of other monarchs. I did not print the calendar and was not aware of it until my attention was drawn to it. Whether that is an offence or, I won’t know until I get to their office,” the monarch said.
The National Chairman of ARG, Hon. Wale Oshun, while expressing surprise over the matter, said the Yoruba were never conquered and should not be treated as such. He called on political office holders to be careful not to undermine the position of traditional rulers.
“Categorically, the Yoruba were never conquered. So, it is a surprise that all these are happening in Ilorin. And all political office holders should be very careful not to undermine traditional rulers, because it is dangerous. If you go to Benin Republic where we have Yoruba monarchs, they are not troubling any of them. So, why should political office holders in Nigeria where we have over 43 million Yoruba people be the ones giving these monarchs problems?” -
ARG hails Akeredolu, residents
The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has congratulated Ondo State people for their faith in democracy.
In a statement by its chairman, Hon. Olawale Oshun, ARG also praised the recipient of the people’s mandate, 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.
“Oshun charged 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.
He added: “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.” -
ARG, Ekiti monarchs meet over Yoruba unity confab
A pan-Yoruba group, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), yesterday held a meeting with Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers on its forthcoming National Conference for the Monarchs in the Southwest, Kogi and Kwara states.
The group said the conference, which is scheduled to hold in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, is designed to cement Yoruba unity, create better understanding and cooperation in the eight states.
ARG National Chairman, Olawale Oshun, who led a six-man delegation to meet with the Ekiti obas, described the group as non-political and working to ensure that the race remains the pacesetter and to ensure its economic progress.
He said the visit was to formally invite the Ekiti traditional rulers to the conference because of their importance towards achieving unity in Yoruba land.
Oshun noted that ARG is collaborating with Yoruba Academy and Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) to ensure the preservation of the Yoruba language and culture.
Other ARG chieftains who accompanied Oshun include Segun Odegbami, Chairman Conference Planning Committee; Ayo Afolabi, ARG General Secretary; Kunle Famoriyo, ARG publicity Secretary; Bunmi Awotiku, Ekiti ARG Ekiti Coordinator and Segun Balogun, Programme Officer.
Oshun said: “Yoruba people currently are not acting like one united people and not speaking with one voice on issues of common interest. This is unlike other ethnic groups in the country. Our group has taken up this challenge and the first move is to work out way on greater unity and cooperation among the region’s monarchs.”
“Our worry lately is that there are traditional councils in each of the region’s constituent states, but yet, there is no forum where they meet to broker common grounds of common issues. This is not so among traditional councils in other ethnic groups.”
“This time yesterday, we were with the Ooni of Ife and he endorsed our plan, and tomorrow, we also have plans to meet with the Alaafin of Oyo. We have written to Governor Ayodele Fayose to book an appointment to enable the group make necessary clarifications.”
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Nigeria’s unity negotiable, says ARG
The unity of Nigeria as a nation is only sustainable by voluntary consent of components ethnic nationalities, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) said yesterday.
The group condemned the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) for supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s position that “Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable”.
In a statement in Lagos by its Chairman, Hon. Olawale Oshun, the ARG said the problem with Nigeria’s unity has more to do with the conducts and utterances of the President.
The group said Buhari is portraying himself as a “northcentric President instead of a pan-Nigerian President”.
Oshun said both the President and the ACF should take lessons on managing an all-inclusive pan-Nigerian government.
“We wonder on what consensus or authority the so-termed non-negotiable unity of Nigeria stands. Is it based on governments’ ability to silence all dissenters or the capability to manage a diverse society in a manner that makes every component proud?” the group queried.
The ARG said even though Nigeria was designed as a Federal republic by its founding fathers, its governance structure as dictated by the constitution is akin to a unitary state.
It said the insistence of the President and the ACF that Nigeria’s unity cannot be re-negotiated has been the cause of many unsolvable agitations in the country.
“Yoruba people can never agree to becoming slaves in their own country and the peaceful agitation coming from their space on the restructuring of Nigeria, as against the violent agitations coming from other areas, is to carefully underscore our belief in peaceful change – the mantra under which the last election was won and lost.
“ARG, therefore, conclude that Nigeria’s unity and mode of governance are negotiable and the earlier we all start working towards this, the better for the development, peace and unity of the country,” the statement said.
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ARG canvasses restructuring, devolution of power
•Opposes grazing land for herdsmen
The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to initiate moves for the country’s restructuring and devolution of more powers to the component units.
ARG Chairman, Olawale Oshun, who made the call in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, at the mid-year review of the group, appealed to Southwest governors to come together, irrespective of their political differences to develop the region.
He urged the governors to emulate their counterparts in the North, who are united under the umbrella of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) to work for the socio-economic development of their region, irrespective of their party differences.
Oshun explained that Buhari has a very rare opportunity to make history by devolving more powers to the federating units to fast-track development across the six geopolitical zones and reduce unnecessary agitations by ethnic militias.
He said: “There should be administrative and constitutional restructuring of Nigeria. Nigeria is a federating state, but it is not really practising federalism. It will be counter-productive for us to unitarise our economic structure . The time has come to take cognisance of all the restive actions being taken against Nigeria.
“It will be in the interest of the 253 ethnic groups in Nigeria for all the federating states to be more empowered than we have now. The Federal Government has no reason to involve itself in primary and secondary educations, despite establishing unity schools.
“It is the business of the states to develop health, transportation and educational sectors. We have to devolve more powers to the federating units, not only to protect the interests of all groups, but the much-desired dream of seeing Nigeria becoming a developed state to be realisable.”
Oshun restated the opposition of the group to acquisition of lands for Fulani herdsmen for grazing.
He described it as “an attempt to conquer more territories for them and this should not be allowed in Yoruba land”.
On the bombing of oil installations by NDA in the Niger Delta region, Oshun urged the President to engage the militants in dialogue that the Federal Government should also tackle the fundamental causative factor to permanently arrest the sordid situation once and for all.
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ARG demands release of June 12 election results
…Akerele, CD reiterate call to immortalize MKO Abiola
The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has called on the Federal Government to release the official result of the election which was adjudged to have been won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola. This is just as the Campaign for Democracy(CD), yesterday urged the Federal Government to immortalise the late winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election.
Also, veteran journalist and Abuja-based media/publicity consultant, Lisa Olu Akerele, has reiterated his appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to honour late Chief MKO Abiola with the nation’s highest award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).
In a memorial message to mark the 23rd anniversary of the watershed June 12, 1993 presidential elections which Abiola overwhelmingly won, Akerele noted that the late business mogul paid the supreme price and ought to be rewarded with the highest national honour for leading the struggle for democracy in Nigeria.
He pointed out that the honour of GCFR, though reserved for former Presidents in the country, Abiola deserved it having been voted unreservedly by Nigerians all over the nation no matter their calling or region. He said a precedence had been set for such honour when former President Shehu Shagari awarded the prize in 1982 to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for the role he played in the growth of the country even though the late sage was never installed as President.
Akerele argued that Abiola had won an election adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria, spanning across regional, ethnic and religious barriers and needed to be recognised post-humoursly as a nationalist and president. The late M.K.O, he maintained, “was aware of the herculean task he faced in actualising his mandate, but plodded on until his premeditated death in the hands of reactionists.
He noted that progressives such as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Col. Umar Dangiwa, Senator Shehu Sani, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Lt-Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Segun Osoba, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Ralph Obiora, Barr. Femi Falana, Baba Olu Adebanjo, among others who were ardent colleagues of Abiola had shown their bent for the late leaders’ vision by aligning forces with Buhari, adding that honouring him would heighten his worth and that of his followers.
Besides Abiola, the CD, in a communique signed by its President, Ifeanyi Odili and Secretary,Abdulahi Jabi, recommended others, including: Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Pa Alfred Rewane and Kudirat Abiola, to the presidency to be considered for national awards.
“It is sine-qua-non in our political history and for anyone to write a book on the Democratisation of Nigerian State without June 12 being mentioned is a life-size intellectual fraud because that book will be incomplete,” the group said. It further lamented that today the politicians are reaping from where they did not sow without reverence to the people who made things to work.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Hon. Olawale Oshun, to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of June 12, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) also said President Buhari, as the beneficiary of a ballot revolution that mostly mirrored that of 1993, owes Nigerians the duty of declassifying the result, particularly now that 23 years have elapsed and the Official Secret Act can no longer be binding on the document.
ARG, according to the statement, believes, this will “reverse the stigma occasioned by the foolish act of canceling that election, adjudged to be the most peaceful in the history of Nigeria.” It will also open up the hypocrisy of military rule and help project democracy as a better form of governance.
“June 12 is no longer a struggle but now an obligation. The people have played their own part. It is now the obligation of the beneficiaries of that struggle to set the country on a truly democratic path by deliberately replacing every stamp of military rule on Nigeria’s nationhood, including the imposed governance structure and constitution, through democratic rights and tenets. There is no alternative way to deepen democracy in Nigeria,” the statement said.
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ARG condemns herdsmen attack
Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) in Ekiti State has condemned the invasion and killing of two indigenes of Oke Ako in Ikole Local Government Area.
The suspected herdsmen attacked the locals at 8pm last Friday.
Speaking in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the ARG Publicity Secretary, Adeleye Akintola, said: “We are warning about the consequences of meeting terror with terror should these unprovoked invasions by these marauders persist.
“We also call on the Federal Government to intervene before the invasion is allowed to snowball into a full blown crisis.”
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Include Lagos-Calabar Rail in budget, says ARG
The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has called for the inclusion of the proposed Lagos-Calabar coastal rail project in the budget because “what matters and should matter most is the importance of this project to the growth of Nigeria’s economy.”
The pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, said: “Such project will be crucial for crude oil and gas distribution that is currently being frustrated by vandals and also open up economic routes that will be very important for the West African sub-region.
“The Kano-Lagos rail project would have been completed by now but for similar shenanigan between the Obasanjo and Yar’Adua administrations. The two administrations have since been eased out of power but it has been the lot of Nigerians to bear the burden of their indiscretions.
“This recurring nonchalant attitude and egoistical shows constitute lack of respect by our political leaders for the dignity and wellbeing of Nigerians – who they purportedly represent.
“ARG affirms that this myopic attitude informed by negative politics should have no place in our national polity, particularly in the current administration, be it of the executive or legislative mode, heralded by popular pursuit of change.”
“In any sane clime, where people-centred development is a pivotal political and administrative philosophy, a project of such magnitude would have been accorded the necessary attention, once it was appropriately brought to the attention of the National Assembly, even if it was not part of the original budgetary document.
“The National Assembly has the constitutional right to ensure that budget proposals are in line with the general aspirations and wellbeing of Nigerians. In what way has the National Assembly fulfilled this role if a project of this magnitude is deemed of lower priority compared to the so called Constituency Projects?
“The trend since 1999 is that when it comes to constituency projects, which have always been shrouded in mystery, NASS members are bullish in adjusting budget proposals.
“We, therefore, call on the National Assembly to have a rethink and redeem its public perception; else its anti-people view will further be cemented.”
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ARG seeks de-recognition of Eze Ndigbo title
The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has called for de-recognition of the Eze Ndigbo title in Yoruba land.
The group, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, further alleged that Igbo communities in Yoruba land are obsessed with ambition for a crowned king within Yoruba towns and cities.
ARG said the ambition has been communicated as unacceptable but insisted that it has obviously been falling on deaf ears with the latest crisis in Akure, the Ondo State capital, where the Deji, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, has accused the Igbo leader in the town of insubordination.
ARG said the title of Eze Ndigbo in Yorubaland is not backed by any customary law and is, therefore, considered alien.
It reads: “The evolution of this structure has forced us to consider it as an expansionist agenda as the structure is only rampant in Yorubaland,” the statement said.
“In Akure, the “Eze” believes he now has the power to invest people with chieftaincy titles that are traditional to Yoruba kingship system. In Lagos State, there is an Eze Ndigbo of Lagos, as well as for each of the 57 councils. There are reports that we now even have Eze Ndigbo of some neighbourhoods in Lagos.
“What used to be were development unions and associations of Igbo people living in Yoruba land. Almost all Igbo community with sizeable number of indigenes living in Yoruba land have a development union or association. These associations are welcome and supported, being organisations set up to discuss the welfare of their members.
“However, the manner this idea of “Eze Ndigbo” sprouted and started spreading connotes territorial influence and even ownership. This practice has continued to stretch the tolerant nature of Yoruba people to the limit and it appears the eventual aim of its perpetrators is to stretch this beautiful culture of Yorubas to the breaking point.”
“This is something that Yoruba people living away from Yoruba land do not even think of, and we therefore see no reason why migrants living in Yorubaland should not know their boundaries.
“Consequently, ARG calls on all Yoruba traditional rulers and the executive heads of government at state and local levels governors to de-recognise all customary titles that are not backed by our customs, particularly those that they did not confer, and we enjoin those parading themselves as holders of such titles to drop them in the spirit of peaceful coexistence.
“It is globally accepted that there cannot be two kings in the same domain as there cannot be two captains in the same boat.”