Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group has said that the restructuring of Nigeria that will berth true federalism must take place before the 2023 elections and no matter the party that takes over in 2023, the problems of Nigeria will remain, if not aggravated.
This came as the body called on the Federal Government to revert to the 1963 constitution.
Afenifere made this known after a meeting on Tuesday at the home of Chief Ayo Adebanjo the acting leader, at Sanya-Ogbo, in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State.
According to the statement, the group said if not for the military that scuttled the republican federal Constitution in 1966 Nigeria would have progressed very well.
Also, the group said that it has no doubt whatsoever that no matter the party that takes over in 2023, the problems of Nigeria will remain, if not aggravated if the present Constitution is not changed to devolve power with true federalism entrenched.
Afenifere recalled that during the struggle for Independence and the mantra of ‘One Nigeria’ was being sung, Chief Obafemi Awolowo insisted that federalism is the only system of government that could sustain Nigeria as a country.
The body said that it has not changed in its call for the replacement of the present Constitution and restructuring.
“Afenifere has been consistent in its call for a replacement of the present Constitution and restructuring. In other words, we are consistent – and now still insisting – that restructuring that berths true federalism must take place before the 2023 elections. Afenifere said
The statement reads in parts: “In the alternative, the meeting of ethnic nationalities and related Stakeholders should be conveyed. Such a meeting would provide an opportunity for all of us to redefine the basis of staying together.
“We are still very much convinced that it is in either of the two propositions that solutions to numerous problems afflicting Nigeria lie.
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“We have no doubt whatsoever that no matter the party that takes over in 2023, the problems of Nigeria will remain, if not aggravated if the present Constitution is not changed to devolve power with true federalism entrenched.
“For sure, Afenifere believes in the unity of Nigeria but not at the expense of Yoruba interest. To us, the truism, ‘charity begins at home means so much to us.”
“Afenifere recalled that during the struggle for Independence and the mantra of ‘One Nigeria’ was being sung, Chief Obafemi Awolowo insisted that federalism is the only system of government that could sustain Nigeria as a country.
“The Federal Constitution enabled Nigeria to progress very well until the military scuttled the republican federal Constitution in 1966.
“We have been consistent in opposing military midwifed Constitution. Afenifere, through Alliance for Democracy (AD), participated in the 1999 elections, not because we believe in that Constitution but to let the South West stand politically in Nigeria.
“That was why we advocated for Sovereign National Conference, SNC. Although, the past administration of Dr Jonathan Goodluck did a National Conference rather than the SNC that we advocated. It is on record that the report of the said Confab was never implemented.
“This is why we have again consistently been calling for a renegotiation of the basis of our staying together as a country.”
