*Text Box: Warns National Assembly against Water Resources Bill
Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has recommended the adoption of the reports of the 2014 national conference and restructuring of Nigeria as a basis of a meaningful new constitutional order for the country.
Afenifere made its position known in a communique issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, immediately after an online meeting of its national caucus presided over by its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti.
The organisation also faulted the Water Resources Bill, describing it as “so dangerous as it seeks to convert waterways to RUGA facilities for the federal government.”
“We ask that the Bill be dropped immediately except there is an agenda to divide the country being pursued frenetically,” the Yoruba group added.
According to Afenifere, the recommendations of the 2014 confab should be an alternative to constitution review which, it said, “has become a ritual every four years without tangible progress.”
The communique reads, “The meeting reviewed the latest invitation for memoranda by the Senate for constitutional review and observed that the exercise has become a ritual every four years without tangible progress. It would be sad if the country is being taken through another motion without movement in the midst of its constitutional disorder.
“We, therefore, recommend the reports of the 2014 national conference and other profound positions on restructuring as a basis of a meaningful new constitutional order for Nigeria. The mainly pro-federal reports have enough provisions to take Nigeria out of its present crisis.
“The meeting also discussed the Water Resources Bill rejected by the 8th National Assembly which has been revived surreptitiously by the House of Representatives and concluded that a dangerous agenda is being pursued by the Executive in wanting to subvert the Land Use Act in the constitution that vests lands in the states in the govern.
“The meeting considered the recent increases in the prices of petroleum products and electricity as the most insensitive policies against people being ravaged by a national pandemic without adequate support from their government. To ask Nigerians to pay more for these facilities is wicked and inhumane. We call on the people to use all constitutional and peaceful means to resist and reject the hikes.”
The group reiterated its opposition to the suggestion by the federal government that the South-west security outfit, Amotekun , be under the control of the Inspector-General of Police
“We fully back our governors that being a product of law by federating units , the outfit should be independent and not be muzzled under the failure of single police that necessitated it in the first place. Seeking to take Amotekun over negates the untruth by the federal government that it has commenced restructuring,” it said.
Afenifere also congratulated Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, on his re-election as President of African Development Bank (AfDB) saying “we are happy that his integrity took him through the fire of challenge and he was not burnt”.
