Afenifere, the pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, has urged the Federal Government to prove and unravel the sponsors of protesters, who were flying Russian flags during the recent nationwide hunger protests, as well as the calls for military intervention.
A communiqué issued by the group at the end of its Expanded National Executive Committee Meeting and signed by signed by the national leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and the National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye, insisted that those behind the display of foreign flags must be exposed.
It urged the Federal Government to make light of the alleged involvement of foreign interests in Nigeria’s domestic affairs, positing that proven involvement or calls for military intervention in the internal affairs of the country Nigeria’s political affairs should be met with the full force of the law.
The group said it is imperative to “investigate the deliberate violation of rights, particularly the circumstances surrounding the deaths of those who died during the protests, and to hold accountable those, including security agents, found culpable in these matters.”
On the threat to non-indigenes, residing in certain parts of the country, Afenifere stated, “Governments at all levels should take immediate action against threats to any group in any part of the country, thoroughly investigate these incidents, and decisively deal with those found responsible, given the implications for the security, unity, and corporate existence of Nigeria.
“Nigerians are widely dispersed across every state and geopolitical zone, irrespective of their ethnic identities.”
The group lauded President Bola Tinubu for his address to the nation on the hunger protests, though it said it was disappointed group expressed disappointment that Tinubu ‘failed to rise to the occasion in statesmanship, particularly with his hypocritical warning against those fanning the flames of ethnic disunity – a tactic often employed by some of his advisers and spokespersons.
Furthermore, he failed to concretely address the existential issues raised by the protesters.”
It berated agents of the for their unprofessionally threatening and intimidating the protesters as well as mocking revered traditional institutions, and exploiting ethnic and religious schisms.
Afenifere called for the immediate initiation of irreversible mechanisms to achieve true federalism, as a means to ensure unity, peaceful coexistence, and development in a nation where no individual or group is oppressed.
The group hailed “those security agents who professionally ensured the civil treatment of demonstrators and protected them from attacks by apparent hired gangs.”
It strongly condemned “the display of foreign flags and interests in Nigeria’s purely domestic matters and the surreptitious calls for military intervention in the nation’s political affairs,” adding: “NEVER AGAIN will the military be tolerated in the politics and governance of Nigeria.”