Newsbreak: Afenifere sacks Pa Ayo Adebanjo, sets up new elders committee

Pan Yoruba group calls for restructuring

By Samuel Ogunsona

Yoruba oldest socio-cultural group has sacked Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the Deputy Leader of the over 70-year old group.

In a communique issued at the end of its meeting held in Akure, the capital of Ondo State and made available to Irohonoodua, Afenifere removed Ayobanjo who had occasionally paraded himself as the leader of the group.

In the past one decade, Afenifere has continued to lose its steam in Yorubaland in what many consider the consequence of its transformation from a group driven by Yoruba interests into a movement now populated by a variety of interests many of which oppose the ideology of its original founders.

The meeting held in Akure was driven by by Pa Rueben Fasoranti who urged His Royal Highness, Chief Olu Falae to preside.

The communique was signed by Comrade Jare Ajayi
National Publicity Secretary, Afenifere Worldwide.

It was its first general meeting in the new year in the Akure home of the Leader, Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, OFR.

After the opening prayer, The Leader, Pa Fasoranti, welcomed members and congratulated everyone for surviving the year 2023. He prayed for a successful 2024 and beyond.

In attendance at the meeting were representatives from various State Chapters of Afenifere.

A motion on the need to abrogate the dual positions of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader was moved by Dr. S. J. Ibikunle from Ogun State. It was seconded by Members from Ekiti, Kwara, Oyo and Ondo States. When the matter was thrown to the general house, the motion was unanimously supported.

Flowing from this, the Leader then declared as follows:

“In the light of recent events and the pressing need to reposition and rejuvenate Afenifere, it has been decided as follow:

1. The position of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader have now been abrogated.
2. The responsibilities and authority of advising the Leader Afenifere and Asiwaju Yoruba are now vested in the Afenifere Elders Caucus which is hereby constituted

The members of the Elders Caucus are as follow:

1. Chief R. F. Fasoranti – Chairman
   2.Chief Ayo Adebanjo
2. HRM Oba Olu Falae CFR GCON
3. HE Senator C O Adebayo
4. Senator Femi Okunrounmu PhD CFR
5. Basorun Seinde Arogbofa OFR
6. Senator Kofo Bucknor Akerele
7. Arch Bishop Prince Ayo Ladigbolu
8. Lt. Gen Alani Ipoola Akinrinade rtd CFR
9. Maj Gen. Olu Bajowa rtd CFR
10. Prof Bolaji Akinwande Akinyemi CFR
11. Prof Banji Akintoye
12. Otunba Dr S A J Ibikunle
13. Chief Femi Aluko
14. Prince Alonge
15. Dr Yomi Finnih
16. Prince Olusi.
17. Hon Korede Duyile.
18. Prof Ropo Sekoni
19. Hon Lekan Alabi
20. Dr Kunle Olajide
    Afterwards, further deliberations commenced.

At the instance of the Leader, His Royal Majesty, Oba Olu Falae, presided over the meeting.

Participants condoled the people of Ondo State over the demise of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. The meeting also congratulated the people on the inauguration of Otunba Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa as new Governor of the state just as participants lauded President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his role in resolving the earlier impasse following the call by Ondo State Elders, under the auspices of Pa Fasoranti to do so.

Participants expressed shock over the blast that occurred in Ibadan on Tuesday, January 14, 2024 and condoled with the government and people of Oyo State over the unfortunate incident.

They also commiserated with the people of Plateau State over the attack on their communities by terrorists.

The meeting then deliberated on issues affecting the organization, Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole.

Among the issues discussed were the state of the nation with particular reference to the socio-economic and security situations in the country.

It reintereted its position on restructuring as a means towards a new lease of life and a better Nigeria was also discussed.

After comprehensive deliberations, the meeting then resolved as follow:

1. There is an urgent need to rework the Security Architecture of the country to ensure that Nigerians are able to live and move about without the fear of being kidnapped or harassed in any way. Such reworking should include giving states and local government councils that so desire to establish own police services with all the requisite powers to function as such. Doing so would check, if not totally stop, the incidences of kidnapping and sundry banditry now ravaging the land.
2. The unfortunate blast in Ibadan clearly underscores the need to allow the federating units in the country to control mineral resources in their respective areas with particular reference to mining and exploration. The reasoning behind this was that had it been that states were in control of mining for instance, Oyo State government was likely to know how explosives were being moved around. Such would have made last week’s horrendous blast that claimed many lives, traumatized hundreds of people and destroyed properties running into Billions of Naira would have been prevented.
3. To facilitate the issues in 1 and 2 above, Afenifere again reiterated that the time for Restructuring the country is NOW. It therefore urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to set the machinery in motion for the purpose. The organization took note of the fact that the President, a known democrat and federalist would not hesitate to do things that will quicken the country’s quest for true federalism in which people would have self-determination within the context of one nation that is genuinely democratic and federal.
4. The meeting took note of the report that Miyetti Allah Hore set up a 1,144-strong Nomad Vigilante militia in Nassarawa ostensibly to provide security for Fulani herders. Afenifere was of the opinion that Miyetti Allah, being a non-state actor, should not have power to do a thing like that. It therefore considered the action of the Department of State Security (DSS) to checkmate Miyetti Allah on the issue as timely and in order.
5. The meeting expressed the hope that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda would be giving the necessary push so that life can be easier for the people of Nigeria. Among the means of achieving this are taking steps that would strengthen the value of our currency, the Naira, reduce costs of energy (fuel in particular) through local production of petroleum products as well as regular supply of electricity.
6. In view of the current high cost of living, Afenifere urged the Federal Government, through its various organs in charge of finance and fiscal policies, to accelerate actions that will strengthen the value of our currency, enhance productivity, reduce costs of items and services all geared towards reducing inflation and enhancing the welfare of the people.
7. The meeting renewed its call on governments in Yoruba speaking states to further encourage the teaching and usage of Yoruba language in schools. This can be done by making the language the medium for teaching at elementary and lower level of secondary education as well as making it compulsory for students at school certificate examination level. It also urged parents and guardians to teach their children the language as well as encourage its usage as much as possible both in verbal and literary communications.

At the end of the meeting, The Leader encouraged Afenifere members to be more committed to the noble ideals that the organization stands for and display Omoluabi ethos as they project Afenifere further in their respective states. He prayed for the success of government at all levels so that the people can enjoy a better lease of life.