Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has insisted that the restructuring of the country must take place before the 2023 general elections.

It said this in a five-point communique issued at the end of its meeting held at the residence of its acting Leader, Ayo Adebanjo, in Sanya-Ogbo, Ijebu-Ode, and signed by the Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi. 

The organisation while lamenting that the country is bleeding in many parts with the rate terrorism and related vices are spreading, stated that there is the need by the Federal Government to urgently put a halt to acts of terrorism, kidnapping and  herders/farmers clashes. 

According to it, government can do this by immediately allowing states to have their own police, maintaining that security aparatus should be democratised to the local level.

Afenifere stated further that as a result of the challenging situations facing the country, it is ready for meetings of stakeholders where the issues of restructuring, devolution of power, true federalism would be firmed up, noting that the outcome of such deliberations are to be passed into law and be made operational immediately.

The communique read, "It is a matter of interest that the President said that he is now favourably disposed to Restructuring. We urge him to send a bill to the National Assembly on it immediately after the planned deliberations by stakeholders in the country.

"Afenifere strongly holds the position that Restructuring should be done before the next elections in the country.

"In the meantime, every community must be at alert to realise that they should defend themselves from bandits who seem to have declared war on Nigeria."