Afenifere urges Buhari to match words with actions on security
Restates call for state police, restructuring
THE pan- Yoruba socio- cultural organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to match his words with actions regarding various indices of governance, particularly insecurity.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jare Ajayi, and made available to The Guardian in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the group said the information and assurance that emanated from President Buhari’s message to Nigerians to mark this year’s Eid- el- Fitri celebration “fly against the reality on ground.”
Buhari had in a statement released on Sunday, April 30, 2022, by his presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, to mark the end of this year’s Ramadan fast, said the end to terrorism was very much in sight and Nigerians have reasons to mark the festival with hope as the “battle waged against terrorists, who falsely masquerade under the name of Islam, is approaching its conclusion”. H
OWEVER, Ajayi, in the statement, said: “Rather than looking at the immediate future with hope, Nigerians are living and moving around in fear and despondence because of the insecurity they face at home, at work and even more so when travelling on highways. How then can one be hopeful in that kind of situation?”
While agreeing with the President that the fight against terrorists in the country “has been long and hard,” Afenifere spokesman said the government had not succeeded in convincing most Nigerians that the ‘ final victory is in sight” as claimed by the President through his spokesman, Shehu.
According to him, it is now at an unprecedented important to let the level, corruption is at an allPresident know the reality on time high, while the econoground because the specters my is now so down that hardcoming from Aso Rock often ly are the majority of indicate a distance between Nigerians been able to eat those in government and the twice in 24 hours.” people they govern. He then challenged the
Ajayi, who noted that the President to immediately three major areas in which allow states to establish their President Buhari raised the own police forces, honour hopes of Nigerians when agreements his government coming to power are securihas with various labour ty, fighting corruption and unions, drastically reduce boosting the economy , the cost of governance and among others, said: ensure that the cost of social “Unfortunately, the changes services and essential comwe have seen in these areas modities like petrol and elecare the reverse. In reverse in tricity come down considerthe sense that insecurity is ably.