Deborah Akinyosoye
Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has renewed its call for the restructuring of Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference as a foundation for true federalism.
The group argued that the current “winner-takes-all” system has deepened inequality and stifled national development.
In a statement marking June 12 Democracy Day, Afenifere’s leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, emphasised that Nigeria’s diverse composition, with over 374 ethnic nationalities, requires a governance structure that promotes autonomy and self-determination.
He said restructuring would address ethnic tensions and foster a genuine sense of belonging among all citizens.
“The problem lies in how to weave nationhood from our diverse nationalities,” Olaitan noted.
“Every group must feel legitimately represented in the country’s political and economic arrangements.”
Afenifere maintained that the over-centralisation of power in the presidency and the country’s dependence on crude oil revenue are unsustainable.
The group called for the devolution of powers and the creation of a system that supports equitable resource control and infrastructural development across regions.
The group also raised concerns about the country’s growing debt burden, which stands at nearly N150 trillion, with recent reports indicating further borrowing requests amounting to $21.5 billion, €2.1 billion, and ¥15 billion.
Afenifere stressed that the current system disproportionately prioritises recurrent expenditure over capital development, an imbalance that undermines long-term growth.
Highlighting the enduring significance of June 12 and the struggle for democratic ideals, Afenifere called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the political class to commit to a fundamental restructuring of the federation.
According to the group, Nigeria can and should adopt a new constitution before the 2027 General Elections.
“India has over 2,000 ethnic groups, yet it has remained united since 1947,” Afenifere stated. “Nigeria must stop seeing its diversity as an albatross and instead embrace it through a restructured, truly federal constitution.”
The group concluded by urging Nigerians to unite in pressuring the political leadership to implement genuine reforms.
“We must reinvent a federal Nigeria based on mutually agreed principles. That is the true spirit of June 12,” the group said.