BY DAYO JOHNSON
Akure — YORUBA socio-political group, Afenifere has reviewed various problems threatening the corporate existence of the country and reiterated its call for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, SNC.

Rising from a meeting at the residence of its National Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, the group called on President Goodluck Jonathan to as a matter of urgency put machinery in place to convoke the SNC.

Reading the communiqué after the meeting, its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, said so many unfortunate incidents were over-heating the polity.

Afenifere said the rampaging activities of Boko Haram and the drum-beat of war by ethnic groups demanded urgent attention via the convocation of the SNC.

The group dismissed fears that all political structures would be dismantled by the convocation of the SNC, contending rather that the voices of Nigerians would matter in the running of the affairs of the country.

Afenifere, which lauded both President Jonathan and the Senate President David Mark for not objecting to the idea of convoking the SNC, however appealed to others expressing fears that they would lose out to consider the interest of the country and not their selfish interest.

The group said: “To preven the ship of this country from capsizing, we have no other option than to convoke SNC. The tension in this country is heightened; the polity is over-heated and the warning signal is too glaring.”

On the plan by President Jonathan to re-contest in 2015,  Afenifere said the nation’s constitution allowed him to re-contest if he so wished.

According to the group, “Our group is not against anyone contesting or not contesting.

“Let the electorate decide the fate of any politician seeking political office. Nigerians should stop over-heating the polity, causing divisions.

“If care is not taken a politician would not be allowed to campaign in one area of the country while another will be allowed.

“Let Nigerians decide who they want through their votes. Afenifere is not against anybody contesting or not contesting. The Nigerian constitution guarantees any Nigerian to seek for any political office.”


Source: Vanuard