Afenifere Condemns Purported Impeachment Of Gov Ortom

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has condemned in a strong term the scenario in which eight Legislators purported to have suspended 15 of their colleagues and served an impeachment notice on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.

Samuel Ortom

According to Afenifere, this legislative rascality action has been condemned in Ladoja’s case in the past and must never be allowed in any part of Nigeria saying that the right of citizens to freely associate with any political party of their choice should be with intimidation and direct assault as is being visited on Ortom.

Afenifere said this in a communique issued after its meeting held in Akure, Ondo state capital at Chief Reuben Fasoranti’s resident.

The Communique also condemned the Federal Government action on how it deployed heavy security agents to the last concluded Ekiti state governorship election saying that never again should elections be conducted under an atmosphere of fear and intimidation by the police, DSS and other security forces in Nigeria.

The Communique reads further, “The meeting considered the widespread use of money as an instrument of election into public offices contestants and their parties. And insists that INEC as the regulatory authority on electoral matters must take visible and credible steps to prosecute offenders to make this practice impossible in future elections.

“Afenifere demands from INEC to adhere to the highest standard in election transparency, failing which Nigeria will loose faith in its ability to conduct free, fair and credible election in 2019”.

On the insecurity, the statement said, “Afenifere continues to be highly disturbed by the degenerating situation of the country’s security. Excessive migration from the north especially by unskilled youths beyond gives cause for concern. It is our view that the federal government’s failure to take decisive steps in curtailing security breaches is not only embolden perpetrators, it is accentuating insecurity and seriously endangering the lives of millions of Nigerians”.

Also on the restructuring, Afenifere said restructured Nigeria remains a fundamental solution to the challenges which Nigeria is presently encountering.