As Nigerians mark this year’s Democracy Day, the National Leader of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has called on the federal government and citizens alike to revisit the foundational principles of federalism as enshrined in the 1963 Republican Constitution, describing it as a roadmap for national unity and long-term development.
In a statement released on Wednesday in commemoration of June 12, Fasoranti stressed the importance of adopting a system that allows for the autonomy of Nigeria’s constituent regions, advocating for a return to the federal structure that defined the First Republic.
“To ensure an enduring framework for unity and progress in the country, federalism enables the constituent parts of the country to exercise some level of autonomy or self-determination as obtained in the First Republic,” the elder statesman noted.
He decried the present governance structure as overly centralised and ill-suited to Nigeria’s complexity, arguing that the current system has contributed to uneven development and heightened regional tensions.
According to him, embracing true federalism would ensure balanced growth across the country and strengthen the unity of the nation.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s progress in democratic governance since 1999, Fasoranti maintained that deeper structural reforms are needed to consolidate the nation’s democratic gains.
“Without doubt, the sustained and uninterrupted democratic rule since 1999 is a product of the sacrifices and commitment of our heroes and heroines in the civil society groups, and other well-meaning compatriots, who, along with Afenifere, coalesced into the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, to constitute the vanguard of progressive forces that ensured the restoration of democracy and the birth of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
The nonagenarian praised the resilience of pro-democracy advocates and expressed optimism that the ideals they fought for would continue to shape Nigeria’s political future.
He also addressed the persistent issue of insecurity across the country, noting that despite various efforts, Nigeria remains under threat from violent non-state actors.
The Afenifere identified the establishment of State Police and Community Policing as practical steps that must be taken urgently to address the growing insecurity.
“We, in Afenifere, share the view of many other patriotic Nigerians that establishing State Police and checking internal collaborators appears to be the panacea for this scourge that tends to make living or travelling in certain parts of the country a nightmare,” he said.
“I am therefore seizing this opportunity to call on the federal and state governments to establish the State Police and the Community Policing system,” he added.
Fasoranti further said in his Democracy Day message by urging Nigerians to reflect on the significance of June 12 and commit to a common national purpose that transcends ethnic, religious, and political divides.
