Afenifere to S/ West Govs: Tackle insecurity, construct rail line to link state capitals

2026-01-29 - 18:55

By Dayo Johnson Akure The Yoruba Socio-Political Group Afenifere has called on governors of Southwest to do more in strengthening Amotekun with a view to curtailing insecurity in the region. Afenifere at their caucus meeting held in Akure, also called on the governors to come up with a rail line project that will link the capitals of Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti States. They expressed concern that banditry and kidnapping are now rampant and recurring in the Southwest geo-political zone almost daily. According to them “the rail-line and effective security cauldron can be extended to Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta States as well in alighment with governments of those states. The National Publicity of the group, Jare Ajayi, in a communique issued after the meeting asked the Federal Government to review the tax law to accommodate the low-income earners which the law is supposed to take care of. Consequently, the group called on governments, security agencies, and community leaders to rise to the challenges and find lasting solutions to the menace. The communique read: ‘It is when one is alive and in good health that one can think of becoming anything. As such, the situation of insecurity in our land leaves a lot to be desired. Afenifere has repeatedly called attention to this menace. “We were not just calling attention to the menace, we always provided ideas on the way out. In this way, 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 the Southwest to do more in strengthening Amotekun with a view to curtailing insecurity in the region.” On the tax law, Afenifere noted that the intention of the government with the tax laws is to, among others, relieve low-income earners of financial burdens. However, it said that the way it is presently structured, low-income earners are likely to be at the receiving end. Afenifere pleaded that the threshold of N800,000 be raised generously upward so as to enable more low-income earners to benefit. Ajayi commended the federal government on the construction and reconstruction of roads in various parts of the country. Afenifere also, appealed 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, we appeal 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. “Afenifere appreciated the federal government on the reconstruction of Ibadan-Ife-Akure Road that has commenced. It expressed the hope that the work will be completed very soon. The group commiserated with Onabanjo family and Ogun State people generally on the passing away of the wife of the first civilian governor of the state, Chief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo. Some of the personalties at the meeting included, Oba Olu Falae, Chief Femi Aluko, Honourable Korede Duyile, Agbaakin Ademola Folarin, Abagun Kole Omololu, Honourable Lekan Alabi, Chief Deji Wellington, Dr. Niyi Osoba, High Chief Ayo Abereoran, Chief (Mrs) Grace Animola, Right Honourable Bakita Bello, Ambassador Samson Obanibi, Engr. Lai Gboluaje, Alhaji Abdullah Kasali and Chief Kehinde Oladeinde among others.