The crisis rocking Afenifere,the apex body of Yoruba socio-political organisation, got messier,after the immediate past leader of the group,Pa Reuben Fasoranti endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,after the current leader had initially endorsed Peter Obi of the Labour party,and had reportedly said leaders of the group would no longer converge on Isoya Ogbo, Ijebu home of the acting leader, Adebanjo. According to him, the meetings of the organisation will henceforth hold in Akure, the capital of Ondo State.The incumbent acting leader of the group,immediatey lambasted his immediate past predecessor,saying, “he (Fasoranti) has no right to come back to assume the leadership of the organisation after he had written a letter to resign in which he stated categorically that I (Adebanjo) is now the leader.”
Adebanjo’s response was in reaction to recent development, especially moves by Fasoranti to exercise control over Afenifere. Fasoranti
There were insinuations that following the shift of meeting venue to Fasoranti’s residence, Adebanjo may have ceased to be acting leader.
Crisis had erupted after the two elder statesmen made public their different endorsements of presidential candidates between All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
Fasoranti said Obi has not been endorsed by the group. “We have not deviated from the same principle. We still stand for the good of the people,” he said.
“I didn’t retire from the leadership of Afenifere. I was misinterpreted. I am still the leader of Afenifere. Afenifere is not endorsing Obi. We are endorsing Jagaban (Tinubu). As you can see the trend following the approval and the acceptability.
“Adebanjo cannot warn me not to welcome Tinubu. Adebanjo took a stand and I took a stand. We did not speak about Tinubu’s visit. It goes without saying that Jagaban is accepted and we approve of it. Obi has no stand in our mind at all.”
Adebanjo, in a telephone conversation with The Guardian, yesterday, said it was unfortunate that at Fasoranti’s age, he is allowing some younger elements to influence him with money and allowed himself to be dragged into this mess.
He said: “Where is that done that someone would resign for almost two years now and suddenly come back to say he wants to assume leadership? I am sorry for him. Maybe old age is affecting him. Which Constitution approves that? I am the leader of the organisation. Pa Fasoranti has no right to take any decision on behalf of Afenifere.”
Adebanjo’s outburst is coming on the heels of Fasoranti’s endorsement of Tinubu on behalf of Afenifere, in Akure on Sunday, which contradicted the earlier position of Adebanjo who had endorsed Obi.
Adebanjo, who laughed at Fasoranti’s statement, said they are waiting to see who would attend any Afenifere meeting in Akure.
Adebanjo said: “No problem. Let them hold the meetings in Akure and see the number of people that will attend. I am the leader of Afenifere. They are just trying to cause confusion and I won’t help them to do that.”
