Restructuring: We Don’t Trust National Assembly

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Says ‘In Total Support Of’ Governors Ban On Open
Grazing

Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-political group, on Friday, said it
cannot trust the National Assembly to champion its call for
restructuring of the country.

The leader of the group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, said this at the
general meeting of the group, held at his Ijebu-Ogbo home town in
Ogun State.

“We do not believe in the National Assembly which is a product
of this fraudulent constitution to amend the constitution.

“It is immoral and illogical for a product of fraud to amend the
fraud,” the group insisted.

In a communique issued on Friday at the end of a meeting held in
Ogun State, the group also reiterated its call for
restructuring.

The Governors announced the ban on Tuesday after meeting in
Delta State.

They also called for President Muhammadu Buhari to address the
nation over the state of insecurity.

“Afenifere is in total support of the decision of Governors of
the 17 states in Nigeria banning open grazing of livestock in any
of the states that they control,” the Afenifere communique
said.

“Afenifere felt that although the declaration by the governors
ought to have come long before now, given the atrocities that have
arisen from open grazing, it is better late than never.”

The Afenifere communique added that “despite various steps taken
and appeals made by state governments and communities, herders
continue to graze their cattle on farms of our people.

“When the farmers tried to protest, they (the farmers) are
harassed, maimed and sometimes killed. Our female folks are raped.
This is a very important reason for the need to completely outlaw
open grazing with severe penalties for any violator.”

On Restructuring
The group said it was “delighted” that the idea of restructuring as
a mechanism for preventing the breakup of Nigeria “is becoming more
popular and winning converts on a daily basis.”

It said it has been advocating for a federal system for Nigeria
since 1953.

“A Constitution based on Federalism was operating in the country
until 1966 when the military consigned the Constitution into the
dust bin,” the communique said.

“Since then, Nigeria has not been enjoying true federalism.

“We in Afenifere believe very strongly that failure to practise
federalism and increasing Unitarisation of the country were largely
responsible for the travails Nigeria is suffering today – and will
continue to suffer – unless Nigeria is restructured!

“We have no doubt about this at all.

“We are happy to note that some who were either opposed to
Restructuring or hesitant of it are now embracing it. We therefore
demand that Restructuring should be effected NOW!”

Afenifere said when the 8th National Assembly called for
Memoranda on Constitutional Review, it had submitted a
Memorandum.

“Of course the 1999 Constitution meant to be reviewed is what we
are insisting should be jettisoned,” the communique said.

“But since we don’t have any other document other than this 1999
Constitution with which the affairs of the country is being run, we
feel that it is sensible to submit a Memorandum that clearly states
our own position.

“Our hope is that the National Assembly will be sincere in its
effort at reviewing the Constitution.”

The meeting that produced the Friday communique was held at the
house of the group’s acting leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, in
Sanya-Ogbo, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

Yoruba is one of Nigeria’s three largest ethnic groups.