NB247
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has raised fresh concerns over insecurity in the country and particularly in the South West, calling on governors of the region to do more to stem the tide.
In a communique from its meeting held in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Tuesday, the group noted its earlier calls for urgent attention by the respective governments and agencies to the current situation in the country.
The group led by Reuben Fasoranti, noted that the situation of insecurity in the land leaves a lot to be desired.
Ye communique says Afenifere is very concerned that banditry and kidnapping are now so rampart that they are occurring in the South West almost on a daily basis.
It says the situation is unacceptable and called on governments, security agencies and community leaders to rise up to the challenges and find lasting solutions to the menace.
”Afenifere has repeatedly been calling attention to this menace. We were not just calling attention to the menace, we always provide ideas on the way out.,” the group stated.
”In this wise, we call on State Governors in the Southwest to empower the security outfit Amotekun. We also appeal to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the state governments to expedite action on the much vaunted State Police.
”Afenifere called on governors of Southwest to do more in strengthening Amotekun with a view to curtailing insecurity in the region.”
Afenifere’s call is coming on the heels of recurring kidnapping in Ondo and other states of the South West.
In Ondo State, gunmen attacked different communities in Akure on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, kidnapping several individuals including pregnant women.
Although the police pledged efforts to rescue the victims and bring perpetrators to justice, not much had been achieved in this light.
Afenifere further called on the South West governors to come up with a rail line project that will link the capitals of Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti States.
”The rail-line and effective security cauldron can be extended to Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta States as well in alignment with governments of those states,” said Afenifere.
The group also ex-rayed the contents of the Tax Laws as announced by the federal government, urging that the threshold of N800,000 be raised generously upward so as to enable more low-income earners to benefit.
Afenifere note that the intention of the government with the tax laws was to, among others, relieve low-income earners of financial burdens.
”But the way it is presently structured, low-income earners are likely to be at the receiving end,” the group submitted.
Afenifere commended the federal government on the construction and reconstruction of roads in various parts of the country.
It went further to appeal to the government to prevail on the contractors handling these projects to expedite action in terms of quality as well as duration for the completion of the projects.
Specifically, Afenifere appealed to the government to motivate respective contractors to quickly complete works on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ibadan-Ilorin-Mokwa Road, Abeokuta-Abeokuta Road, Ibadan-Ijebu-ode Road, Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo-Ikirun-Offa-Ilorin Road as well as Akure-Oore-Okitipupa-Igbokoda-Akinfosile-Igbotako Road.