Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has appointed Oba Olu Falae as the Chairman of its National Executive Committee. The appointment was announced at the group’s monthly meeting held on Tuesday at the Akure home of its national leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
Oba Falae, a respected elder statesman and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, is also the traditional ruler of Ilu-Abo in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
According to Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the appointment is aimed at repositioning the group and strengthening its role in championing Yoruba interests. “Oba Falae’s appointment is meant to reinvigorate the organisation with a view to ensuring that the House of Oduduwa is back on track to project the Yoruba mandate,” he said.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, Afenifere strongly restated its demand for the restructuring of Nigeria. The group urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to begin the process immediately, describing it as the only way to solve the country’s political and economic challenges.
Afenifere also expressed concern over worsening insecurity across the country, especially in the North-Central and South-West regions. It condemned the killing of traditional ruler Oba James Ogunyanda Ilufemiloye in Kogi State and the murder of APC chieftain Nelson Adegboyigiwa in Ondo State.
The group renewed its call for the creation of state police to improve security at the grassroots level.
On the economy, Afenifere acknowledged recent reports by the National Bureau of Statistics but said Nigerians are still struggling with high food prices and transport costs. It urged the federal government to act swiftly to ease the burden on ordinary citizens.
The group welcomed the federal government’s plan to create a National Forestry Guard but insisted that implementation should be left to the states in line with the call for decentralised governance.
They also thanked President Tinubu for approving funds to repair the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa Expressway, describing it as a step in the right direction.
Speaking after his appointment, Oba Falae thanked Pa Fasoranti and promised to unite all factions within Afenifere. “By the grace of God and with the support of Afenifere and the Yoruba nation, we’ll succeed in bringing everybody together,” he said.
