Pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has listed expectations from All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
It said it expects things to turn around in the country under Tinubu.
A former Secretary General of Afenifere, Seinde Arogbofa, who spoke when Tinubu visited the group to present his manifesto, said those opposed to restructuring were already trying to implement it.
According to him: “We will like you to restructure. Insecurity is everywhere. By the introduction of State police, this will be done. Insecurity led to the formation of Amotekun. We are already seeing Amotekun as the precursor to state police
In a sharp reaction monitored by Aiyekooto Reporters. The Apex Pan Yoruba organization has come to deny the Tinubu’s endorsement.
If anybody is interested in hearing the truth, here it is!
If The Tinubu’s countless forgeries, name, education, parentage, and of recent The Fitch’s Report, do not make anyone to understand his underhand tactics, then I have nothing to offer, beyond prayers….
Chief Fasoranti resigned as Leader last year, you may recall. Chief Ayo Adebanjo is his successor, with Oba Oladipo Olaitan as his Deputy. All contained in his letter of resignation. Afenifere has an Executive Committee to which I belong, as a member of The Afẹ́nifẹ́re EXCO. It is if anyone in that Committee is seen to be supporting Tinubu that I am sure the organization will take appropriate actions. Chief Falae too, says he is now retired and he is now a traditional ruler and no longer in partisan politics.
General Akinrinade is not an Afẹ́nifẹ́re and has always been a Tinubu supporter. So nothing new in this mere show of political antics and worthless shenanigan…
I believe we all on this platform know the Afẹ́nifẹ́re Structure is firmly in the hands of Pa Ayo Adebanjo. The EXCO, Caucus and General meetings are held in his domains at Ìjẹ̀bú-Ode and in Lekki. No meeting of the Afẹ́nifẹ́re has been held at Pa Fasoranti’s house since Pa Adebanjo took over. No one should therefore talk of any other leadership, let alone that of a retired Leader.
Afenifere is not a Yoruba irredentist organization. It’s a descriptive name of the followers of Awolowo’s prescription of Social Democratic economic and social left of centre approach to governance, as well as morales and practices in governance. It is partisan. It always has its own preferred political objective{s}. From the time of its Founder, it has supported non – Yoruba leadership; even when other Yoruba are vying for a position. Chief Awolowo supported Ernest Ikoli to lead the Nigerian Youth Movement, against Prince Akinsanya. He was labeled as working against Yoruba interests. Chief Awolowo retorted that Yoruba interests was etched in the collective approach of fairness and equity in determining our position on issues. Once one leans towards equity and justice in our life’s choices, one protects one’s interests too in that collective stance.
Anyone following the developments in Afẹ́nifẹ́re in the past years, will be conversant with the fact that Chief Fasoranti resigned from being Afenifere Leader. He therefore took himself out of partisan politics. His letter of resignation, which will now be circulated forthwith, named Chief Ayo Adebanjo as his successor.
Tinubu supporters were quick to broadcast Chief Ayo Adebanjo and other Afẹ́nifẹ́re Leaders’ visit to Tinubu, upon his return to the Country, after his medical procedures outside the Country, earlier this year.
Chief Ayo Adebanjo was acknowledged as the Leader of Afẹ́nifẹ́re then, by the same band of spin doctors. They didn’t remember the retired Chief Fasoranti at that time. Chief Fasoranti is the former Leader of Afenifere. As a private elder citizen, he is at liberty to pray for candidates who go to his home. It is consistent with Yoruba culture. Our people are discerning enough to be able to make their own judgement. That is why being an Ọmọlúwàbí, as opposed to being opportunistic person is the hallmark of the true ethos of the Yorùbá. The most essential element in determining those worthy to lead in the Southwest is the continuation of the foremost principles and ethics of the Awólọ́wọ̀ kind of politics, which is absent in the Tinubu profilgate type of demagoguery.
Chief Fasoranti did not say he was acting on behalf of Afenifere. Chief Fasoranti did not say he has endorsed Tinubu!
All the other participants at the gathering at Chief Fasoranti’s home are either retired Yoruba Elders, APC stalwarts, or mere visitors. NO ACTIVE AFẸ́NIFẸ́RE LEADERS WERE PRESENT! The statement read.
In a vehement reaction over the weekend, Ayo Adebanjo the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has accused Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of bribing some members of the group to cause division within, ahead of the 2023 general election.
Mr Adebanjo, who made the allegation while speaking on Sunday with our correspondent, said he’s not ready to engage Mr Tinubu, whom he accused of inducing a few members of Afenifere to curry favour in his preparation for the polls.
He insisted that Afenifere had already endorsed Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) for the next year’s election based on principle.
“Tinubu bribed some people with little money to put up a show that there’s a division in Afenifere. I won’t engage him and those he gave money to because we have already made our position clear that Peter Obi is our candidate. Peter Obi as president will serve our interest better than Tinubu,” Mr Adebanjo confirm to Aiyekooto Reporters.
The latest reaction from Mr Adebanjo is coming following Mr Tinubu’s visit to Reuben Fasoranti, a foremost leader of Afenifere, at his hometown of Akure, Ondo capital, on Sunday.
Mr Adebanjo, who took over as the leader of the Afenifere in March 2021 after Mr Fasoranti, 96, stepped down from the leadership of the pan-Yoruba group during a meeting held at his residence, had consistently expressed his disavowal to Mr Tinubu’s presidential bid.
