The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja to express their support and present a list of demands for the betterment of Nigeria.
The requests border on security, education, youth employment, power supply and agriculture.
Sen. Olabiyi Durojaiye, who spoke on behalf of the Afenifere, said they were also in the presidential villa to rejoice with the president and the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on their re-election for a second term in office.
Durojaiye also commended Buhari for his recognition of June 12 as a landmark in the political history of Nigeria as well as the renaming of Abuja Stadium after late MKO Abiola.
He said: “We are proud of our contributions to your victory through the Yoruba Summit Conference held at the University of Ibadan International Conference Centre on Jan. 29.
“There, we passed a well-applauded motion urging all the people of Western Nigeria origin of voting age to vote for your re-election by virtue
of your people-oriented and welfarist APC political programmes and performance. We are happy the people complied.’’
He said that they were elated for the recognition of June 12 as a landmark in the political history of Nigeria and for naming the National Stadium in Abuja after Chief MKO Abiola, the hero of Nigeria’s pro-Democracy struggle.
“We are equally glad to note and commend Your Excellency for your efforts to empower the 36 States in Nigeria to have control of the Police as a measure of improving security.’’
He stated that Afenifere was also delighted over the giant stride of the Buhari administration in the field of agriculture, social intervention, revival and modernisation of rail transportation, continuing efforts to complete the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway among other achievements.
He, however, highlighted some major issues of paramount interest to the people of Southwest region in particular and the unity, progress and happiness of the entire country in general.
In his response, Buhari told the leadership of the Afenifere, why the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen was suspended before his voluntary retirement on May 28.
The president, who spoke extensively on the war against corruption, right from the time he was military head of state, said he reluctantly `dealt’ with Onnoghen, following the discovery of huge amount of monies (both in foreign and local currencies) that were traced to him.
He said that his administration was determined to recover all stolen funds and properties within and outside the country and that all the recovered properties would be sold and the money put in the nation’s treasury to make it impossible to return such properties to the looters in future.
MM/GIK/APA