Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, noted
that Nigeria is on the right track in a message released to congratulate
Nigerians on the occasion of the country’s 65th independence anniversary.

A statement by the organisation’s National Publicity
Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, quoted Fasoranti, who is also the Asiwaju of the
Yorubas, as saying that although Nigeria has experienced a lot of travails,
there is the prospect that it will overcome its challenges and come out strong
and great soonest.

The optimism was hinged “on the grace of God, the
never-die-spirit of Nigerians, the resources with which the country is endowed,
the determination that the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu is
deploying towards concretizing Nigeria’s developmental strides on the crest of
the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration”.

The Afenifere leader noted that positive impacts of the
policies of the Tinubu government are already being felt, adding that more a
concrete effect of the policies would be felt from the tail-end of this year.

“For instance, the economy is expected to pick up better in
the New Year going by the signs that are already manifesting and in line with
the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President.

“Also, significant improvement is expected on security,
especially with the expected take-off of the state police in which the
government is showing a lot of seriousness”.

The statement urged the state governments to let local
government councils breathe more freely as the country goes into the 66th year
of independence, “so that the people at the grassroots can feel the impacts of
government better and more effectively”.

The body expressed fervent hope that the Tinubu
administration continues to pursue inclusive growth, strengthen democratic
institutions and ensure that no Nigerian is left behind in the development
process.

It added that efforts need to be strengthened to reign-in
banditry and other forms of insecurity in different parts of the country –
including the South-West.

Fasoranti called on Nigerians to, in line with the theme of
this year’s independence anniversary which is ‘All Hands-on Deck for a Greater
Nation’, “join hands together to collectively uplift the country”.

The statement called for “an urgent restructuring of the
country as it appears to be the most feasible way to tackle the myriads of
challenges we are facing as a country thus actualizing the visions of our
founding fathers”.