By Mikhail Odewumi
Leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo has been asked to step down from the over 70-year old Pan Yoruba group
Making the call on Tuesday at a Press Conference attended organised by Afenifere Yoruba Youths, a coalition of various youth organisations in the South West, the group also called for the restructuring of Afenifere to be able to respond effectively to the aspirations of Yoruba people all over the world
The coalition said Pa Adebanjo is on a defiant revenge mission against and individual and has replaced his own desires with that of the Afenifere
“Its unfortunate that Afenifere has become a private tool used by a few individuals to settle private scores and deep seated animosity between them and Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu”
the group said in the conferemce addressed by
Comrade Eric Oluwole
National Youth Leader, Yoruba Afenifere Youths Organizations of Nigeria, Ojo Bright I. Eniafe, Spokesman, Yoruba Afenifere Youths Organizations of Nigeria, wale Adeyemo, Secretary, Yoruba Afenifere Youths Organizations of Nigeria,Lekan Wilki
Chairman, Yoruba Youths Alliance, Abiodun Rosanwo
Leader, Yoruba Youth Community Policing, Yinka Adedugbe
Congress of Yoruba Youths and Raufu Jimoh
Yoruba Youth Movement
They noted that Afenifere was formed 72 years ago as an influential socio-cultural group and voice to lawfully defend and promote first and foremost, the interest of the Yoruba People within the Nigerian Federation.
It said commendably, all past Afenifere Leaders starting with the revered Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and including Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Chief Abraham Adesanya, all of blessed memory, and the present Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, have sustained this philosophy. Notably, these illustrious Leaders in their exemplary, committed and principled leadership, worked tirelessly to make Afenifere a most influential voice widely respected within and outside the Nigerian Federation, and indeed the arrowhead of all popular struggles to build Nigeria into a better, true and balanced Federation where Justice and equity will prevail for all.”
The coalition said it noted sadly that Afenifere began to derail from this long-held philosophy as soon as “our father, Baba Ayo Adebanjo took up the position of Acting Leader when he abandoned the uncompromising pursuit and defence first and foremost of the interest of the Yoruba people for whatever reasons.”
The coalition said “We noted sadly too, that rather than rally the Yoruba People behind their son, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, now the President-Elect of Nigeria, to emerge as the President of this Great Country, Baba Adebanjo campaigned vigorously against him, and even after his well deserving and hard earned victory through a credible Presidential Election, he still wants the Presidency out of Yorubaland. Omo eni o se’di bebere, k’a f’ileke si t’omo elomiran.
“We noted for the purpose of clarity, that Pa. Ayo Adebanjo is not the Leader of Afenifere; but the Acting Leader authorised by Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
“We make bold to say that the action of making Pa Adebanjo the Acting National Leader, is in line with the precedence in our rich history.
“For proper understanding of the nexus, we recount that when our revered late Leader, Pa. Abraham Adesanya wanted to delegate power due to his I’ll health, Pa. Dr. Reuben Fasoranti was appointed as Acting Leader. However, the status quo was maintained as the Prescribed Authority remained with Pa. Abraham Adesanya. Meetings and all official Afenifere activities were conducted within and in the home of the Leader as traditionally and historically expected until his passage. Thereafter, Pa. Reuben Fasoranti was made the Substantive Leader of Afenifere.”
It said Pa Dr. Reuben Fasoranti remains the only legally recognised Leader of Afenifere.
“To our dismay, and contrary to tradition and history, we discovered that immediately Pa. Adebanjo took the mantle of leadership as ACTING Leader of Afenifere, he has been projecting himself as the Leader. Not only that, from all notes compared with history, he has not been working in accordance with the solemn sacred order, norms, ethics and virtues of Afenifere.”
The coalition said “We condemn in totality, the gross insubordination of the ACTING Leader of Afenifere, Pa Adebanjo”
It asked all well-meaning leaders and members of Afenifere should queue behind the National Leader of Afenifere worldwide, Pa. Dr. Reuben Fasoranti, is still alive and his pronouncement on any issue remained final on behalf of Afenifere in general.
“We hereby advise the press to note the right position as regards the leadership of Afenifere, and that there is no debate on who the Leader of Afenifere is. More so, in our history, it has never been heard in Yoruba history that there exist two kings in a palace. Eewo orisa!”
The group said “In view of the above, we call for the restructuring of Afenifere and we advise Chief Ayo Adebanjo to kindly step down as the acting Leader of Afenifere in the interest of the organisation and the entire Yoruba Race.
Yoruba land is our concern.”