Judicial Conspiracy” – Afenifere Slams Supreme Court Judgment on Local Government Autonomy.
LAGOS — The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has vehemently condemned the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local government areas, describing it as a “judicial conspiracy” against the Nigerian state and its federal principles.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Tinubu and the Grand Conspiracy Against Democracy and True Federalism in Nigeria,” signed by Pa Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the group, and Prince Justice Faloye, National Publicity Secretary, Afenifere expressed its disappointment and outrage over the ruling.
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The group views the judgment as a deliberate misinterpretation of the constitution, which recognizes only a two-tier federal structure comprising the central government and federating states. They assert that the Supreme Court’s decision has elevated local governments to a third tier, undermining the principles of federalism.
Afenifere emphasized that Nigeria is a federation consisting of states and a Federal Capital Territory, as affirmed by Section 2 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.
“While Afenifere frowns at corruption and misuse of public funds at all levels of government, it condemns in unmistakable terms the subjugation of the states and their constitutional roles, including the local government system, to the whims and caprices of the federal government by any means, including the obvious manipulation of the federation account as in the present case,” the statement read.
The group pointed out that the 1999 Constitution provides for each state to maintain a special account, the “State Joint Local Government Account,” into which all allocations to local government councils from the Federation Account and state government shall be paid.
Afenifere’s statement highlights a broader concern about the erosion of state powers and the imposition of federal authority, which they argue is detrimental to the country’s federal structure. The group calls for a reassessment of the judgment to uphold the principles of true federalism and democracy in Nigeria.
