The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has strongly condemned the federal government’s alleged abuse of power during the recent local government elections in Rivers State.
In a statement, the group called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and stop those using federal might to disrupt states.
Afenifere specifically criticized the judiciary’s role in disrupting the election process and the police’s refusal to protect the state’s peace. The group accused these institutions of being complicit in the breakdown in Rivers State, according to Daily Trust.
The group also expressed concerns over the Local Autonomy Independent Electoral Commission Establishment Bill 2024, currently being pushed through the National Assembly. Afenifere believes this move would lead to state capture, abuse of federalism, and potentially a one-party dictatorship.
Afenifere has long advocated for decentralizing power from the federal government to ensure true representative and efficient governance in Nigeria. They accuse the Tinubu administration of pushing for overcentralized unitarist governance, which has played out in Rivers State.
The group criticized Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, for using federal might to pursue his personal political ambitions and control Rivers State. Afenifere also called on Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to ensure the Nigerian Police serves the entire federation, not just the federal government.
The development has sparked concerns about the implications for Nigeria’s federalism and democratic governance. Afenifere’s stance highlights the need for accountability and adherence to democratic principles in the country.
According to the Yoruba group, “The role of the Judiciary to muddy the election process and the refusal of the Police to do the obligatory duty of protecting the peace of the state is strongly condemned. The two institutions are complicit in the breakdown in that state.
“Ultimately, Afenifere reiterates its stance that only a decentralization of power from the federal government can bring true representative and efficient governance to Nigeria.
“Unable to use other means to frustrate and usurp the Rivers State Governor, the federal government has been used by the Governor’s previous Godfather, Mr Nyesom Wike, to go for the jugular by attempting to takeover the control of the local governments. The inherent abuse and inefficiency of our overcentralized structure was deployed in favor of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, to pursue his personal political ambitions to undemocratically control the state after falling out with his political protege.
“Following the further bastardization of the Judiciary to sabotage the Rivers State local government elections with a kangaroo court judgement to withhold Rivers State voters register, the federally controlled police was withdrawn from its statutory obligations to safeguard true and fair elections in Rivers State.
“With a spirit of defiance to uphold the principles of federalism, the River State government went ahead to hold elections in its administrative units aka local governments.
“As absolute power corrupts absolutely, Nyesom Wike went ahead to carry out his earlier threats to burn down any State that doesn’t conform to his personal dictates backed by federal might, as his emboldened loyalists set fire on local government offices across River State without fear of laws only enforceable by the federal police.”