2023 elections waste of time without new constitution – Afenifere

A pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere has said that the conduct of 2023 general elections would amount to a mere waste of time if the 1999 constitution was not reviewed.

The group’s acting leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo stated this Tuesday shortly after he presided over Afenifere’s monthly meeting held at his residence in Sanya-Ogbo, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, Adebanjo said some leaders of Afenifere have resolved that the constitution must be reviewed before the elections could be held.

He said “I don’t believe in the election as the leader of Afenifere and some of my members here don’t believe too. I don’t believe in that election and I have told my members if they can refuse it, okay. what do we need elections for?

“Our stand is that the constitution is not our own, the election is going on under that fraudulent constitution. They said they will go to the National Assembly to amend it; the Assembly is a product of the fraud. You want the beneficiary of the fraud to amend the fraud, who are you talking to?”

Meanwhile, Afenifere leaders bemoaned the rising security breaches in Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states and called for the protection of the people in these areas.

The group, in a communiqué signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, reads: “Afenifere noted with serious concern the unprecedented security problems accentuated by the influx of people even from outside Nigeria. Some of them are disguised as Okada riders. We call on the government and security agencies to put a halt to the unbridled influx of people with questionable intentions.

“Afenifere observes that terrorism and related vices including kidnapping are now so worrisome that in some cases, our people in places like Yewa, Ogun State, Oke Ogun in Oyo State, etc are forced to be relocating into Benin Republic and other West African countries. Urgent actions must be taken to guarantee the security of these people and to put a stop to what is causing them agonies.

“Afenifere also noted with concern the illegal mining activities going on in various parts of our land, especially by non-indigenes. In many cases, the manner of this activity is not only jeopardising the economic and agricultural activities of our people in these areas, but the security of the people is also being seriously threatened.

“Afenifere also took particular note of the incessant security breaches in our border towns in Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo. We hereby strongly call for the protection of the people in these areas.”