Pan-Yoruba organisation, Afenifere, has sounded out a note of warning to federal authorities to restructure the country now to avert imminent disintegration.  

The alarm comes amidst growing calls by secessionist elements, calling for the break out of Oduduwa nation from Nigeria.

Afenifere leader Ayo Adebanjo told Peoples Gazette that the group shares the view of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo on being against any agitation or agenda for self-determination for now, rather the socio-political group is in support of restructuring of the country.

Mr Adebanjo said that “what he (Governor Akeredolu) is saying is that Ondo does not support secession; we (Afenifere) also don’t

support secession. We want the restructuring of the country to true federalism, that’s what we are fighting for now. It is the youths who cannot wait. I don’t oppose it but I don’t support secession.” 

“If the authorities have ears, if they don’t want the country to separate, let us restructure the country now,” he warned.

Mr Akeredolu had on Monday responded to Yoruba activist Sunday Igboho’s declaration of a sovereign Yoruba nation, saying that Ondo state will not be part of it, and described the agitation by some groups as “a call to assured annihilation.”

Reacting to Igboho’s threat to kill Yoruba leaders who refuse to support the agitation for the actualisation of Oduduwa Republic,

the Afenifere chieftain said, “he is a young man, leave him alone. We agree with him that we don’t want to stay under this constitution. What he is saying is the voice of the youths of this country, that they are tired under this Constitution.”

Reiterating the call for restructuring, Mr Adebanjo asserted: “We elders are saying wait, let us restructure the country but if the government does not want restructuring, they are encouraging those who want to separate.”