Dele Farotimi, the National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, has underlined the significance of the sociocultural group in Nigerian politics.
Speaking on Sony Irabor Live on News Central on Sunday, the human rights lawyer stated, “I believe it is one of the times when the Action Group or the Afenifere has been needed in Nigerian national politics.” I have assumed that role at this time.
According to Farotimi, the position of Afenifere’s National Organising Secretary entails effectively putting the group on the national sand-foot; “that is the role I have been assigned to play, not that of the publicity secretary.”
“Afenifere is the Yoruba term for the political party that was called the Action Group in the first republic, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the second, and later, the Alliance for Democracy. I have been tasked with organising that political party nationwide into a national movement, and that is the responsibility I have accepted.”

He hinted that the organisation did not change from a political party to its current form.
“The Yoruba term for the Action Group was the Afenifere; therefore, it has nothing to do with metamorphosis. Afenifere implies egalitarian; someone who believes that everyone should be treated well. The four pillars of the programme—by which the Action Group, the UPN, and the AD would subsequently be recognised—were the source of that moniker.
“It was convenient for the Awolowo group, Action Group, also known as the Afenifere group, to continue meeting under the pretext of political activity being prohibited during the military interregnum, specifically from 1966 to 1979. The activities of the Afenifere, a socio-cultural group, would not have been prohibited during the military’s tenure.
“However, that body changed and became the UPN after the ban was lifted, and then it became Afenifere when the ban was reinstated. It changed its name to the Alliance for Democracy when Abacha left. That Alliance for Democracy perished in this era.
“Although it operated from 2003 to 2004, the political platform’s foundation has never been destroyed. We are working to resurrect that political platform on a national level. It has never been taken away, the fire has never been put out, and if there has ever been a moment in Nigerian national politics when the Action Group or the Afenifere was required, I believe this is it. That is the role I currently hold.”