The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, claiming that the country has deteriorated three years after he assumed office.
The group made its position known in a statement titled “Tinubu’s Third Year Report: Summum Malum or Summum Bonum”, jointly signed by its leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye.
According to Afenifere, the present administration has intensified poverty, unemployment, and insecurity across Nigeria.
“Afenifere is fearful of the current course of our democracy, and commiserates with Nigerian citizens following three years of the inauguration of this maladministration that has bred poverty, unemployment, mass killings and kidnappings, tampering with democratic federalism, subjugation of other arms of government, etc.
“According to Chapter Two, Section 14 of the Nigerian Constitution, the primary purpose of governance is welfare and security. Across the world, citizens are motivated by their governments either with Summum Malum – fear of Ultimate Evil – violent death, poverty, tyranny, or Summum Bonum – promise of Ultimate Good – homes, prosperity, security etc,” it said.
The organisation further argued that despite coming to power on a “renewed hope” agenda, the administration has instead presided over worsening insecurity, corruption, and economic hardship.
It stated that many Nigerians are now looking ahead to the next election cycle in the hope of a better outcome.
Afenifere also expressed concern over the increasing rate of killings and kidnappings in different parts of the country, accusing the Federal Government of failing to reform the nation’s security structure.
“The nightmare of ultimate evil has become a reality under the APC administration, with teachers being beheaded, children being kidnapped, and villages ransacked and displaced.
“The ongoing kidnapping of students and teachers and gruesome murders in Kwara, Oyo and other States is a painful reminder of the Tinubu government’s culpable wilful negligence of not restructuring our security architecture, especially the failure to create State and Community Police.
“Nigerians can’t help but question whether there is an unholy pact between the APC and terrorists following the admission by some APC stalwarts that they imported terrorists to embarrass President Jonathan out of office in 2015, after which insecurity moved wholesale to President Buhari’s Northwest region, and now to President Tinubu’s Southwest region.
“Previously, we heard of politicians sleeping in coffins for political pacts with their godfathers; now our whole democracy is wearing coffin shoes under APC governance,” the group added.
