Afenifere urges Tinubu to avert destabilization and protect Nigeria's democratic system

Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, has scrutinised the third anniversary of President Bola Tinubu's administration, lamenting that it has been plagued by maladministration, poverty, unemployment, mass killings, kidnappings, and the erosion of democratic federalism. The organisation's assessment was presented in a statement issued by its Leader and National Publicity Secretary, Oba Oladipo Olaitan and Prince Justice Faloye.

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The statement, titled 'Tinubu's 3 year Report: 'Summum Malum or Summum Bonum', expressed Afenifere's fear about the current trajectory of the country's democracy, and offered condolences to Nigerian citizens who have endured three years of the administration's policies, which have led to widespread poverty, unemployment, and violence.

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According to Afenifere, governments around the world motivate their citizens by promising them either the 'Summum Malum' - fear of ultimate evil, such as violent death, poverty, or tyranny - or the 'Summum Bonum' - the promise of ultimate good, including homes, prosperity, and security.

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The organisation noted that the Tinubu administration, which campaigned on a promise of renewed hope, has instead presided over a period of unrelenting violence, with teachers being beheaded, children being kidnapped, and villages being ransacked and displaced, leaving many to wonder if the government has abandoned its duty to protect its citizens.

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Afenifere also highlighted the ongoing kidnappings and murders of students and teachers in Kwara, Oyo, and other states, which it attributed to the government's failure to restructure the country's security architecture, particularly its refusal to establish state and community police forces.

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The organisation questioned whether there is a connection between the APC and terrorist groups, citing the admission by some APC members that they had brought in terrorists to destabilise the previous administration, and noting that insecurity has since spread to different parts of the country under successive administrations.

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Afenifere also criticised the government's economic policies, which it said have led to a significant increase in poverty, with 63% of Nigerians now living below the poverty line, and a national debt of N65.9 trillion, which has been incurred to finance the cost of governance and tokenistic development projects.

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Despite the government's efforts to present a positive picture of the economy, Afenifere said that the reality is that two out of three Nigerians are struggling to access basic necessities like food and shelter, and that the country has become the world's second-largest population of extremely poor people, after India.

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Nigeria also has the highest number of homeless people in the world, with 30 million people lacking a place to live, and the country's life expectancy rate is now 54.6 years, which is 20 years lower than the global average, while the infant mortality rate is one of the highest in the world.

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Afenifere expressed concern about the replacement of the finance minister with a new appointee who is seen as being more focused on generating revenue than on addressing the country's economic challenges, and warned that this could exacerbate the already dire economic situation.

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The organisation has long argued that the government's neoliberal economic policies are misguided and will only lead to greater poverty and inequality, and has urged the administration to adopt a more equitable and sustainable approach to economic development.

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Afenifere also criticised the government's alleged misuse of public funds, including the recent allocation of N800 billion in campaign finance, which it said is immoral, illegal, and a threat to democratic institutions, and accused the administration of engaging in widespread corruption and cronyism.

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The organisation condemned the government's actions, which it said are designed to undermine the independence of opposition parties, labour unions, and student groups, and warned that these actions pose a threat to the country's democracy and could lead to a slide into fascism.

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Afenifere called on the Tinubu administration to change its course and allow for the existence of credible opposition parties and voices, to ensure a free and fair election, and to prevent the further erosion of democratic institutions and the derailment of the country's democracy.