The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has once again called for a total restructuring of Nigeria, with a passionate advocacy for a return to the parliamentary system of government as a lasting solution to the country’s deepening woes.
Speaking at a symposium titled ‘Afenifere – Identity, Ideas and Ideology’, held in Lagos on Thursday in honour of the late Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the organisation’s Director of Research and Strategy, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, did not mince words as he laid bare the urgent need for structural reforms.
According to him, the current presidential system has failed woefully in addressing the challenges of governance, unity, and development in the country, stressing that Nigeria must return to the path of true federalism and parliamentary governance as practised during the First Republic.
Dr. Fapohunda said: “The golden years of Nigeria were between 1954 and 1966. I took time to research that period and compiled a list of 120 major industries that have folded up since then. That alone tells a story. The system we are operating today is not working. It is centralised, it is inefficient, and it is unaccountable.”
He further argued that the survival of any modern state is hinged on the strength of its structure, stating categorically that without a proper federal arrangement built on regional autonomy, good governance will remain elusive.
Citing the political philosophy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Fapohunda recalled four guiding principles laid out in 1966, stressing their enduring relevance.
He noted that any multilingual or multi-ethnic nation, like Nigeria, that attempts to operate a unitary constitution is destined to fail in the long run.
“The time has come,” he declared, “for Nigeria to return to the parliamentary system of government, where regions are allowed to grow at their own pace, and where leadership emerges through tested competence and accountability.”
The symposium attracted stakeholders, youth leaders, academics and elder statesmen who echoed similar sentiments, affirming that the current structure is flawed and unsustainable.
The immediate past Minister of Interior and former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi were among the distinguished dignitaries at the Afenifere symposium held in honor of the late Ayo Adebanjo.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
