Leaders of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere are planning to resolve the ongoing crisis in the organization originating from the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Bola Tinubu, by the two leaders of the association.
Bellnewsonline recalls that the controversy in the organization began after Pa Ayo Adebanjo the acting leader of Afenifere endorsed the LP presidential candidate, insisting that it was the turn of the South-East to rule the country.
He said, “It is only Peter Obi that can rule independently without the influence of these criminals in the government. Tinubu will only give continuity to Buhari’s incompetence. We know Peter Obi very well, that’s why we endorsed him. He will not disappoint Nigerians, let’s put tribal differences apart and vote the right leader in.’’
However, last Sunday, the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu visited the Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, the Ondo State capital, where he presented his manifesto.
The nonagenarian reportedly gave Tinubu his blessing and declared that he would support him to be the next president of the country.
Fasoranti said he remained the leader of Afenifere while dismissing the claim that the group had endorsed Peter Obi but Adebanjo, who took over from the Afenifere leader in March 2021 criticised the visit.
Shedding more light on the rift, the National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Kole Omololu told the Punch that a four-man committee comprising a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae; Senator Femi Okurounmu; an ex-Minister of Communications, Chief Cornelius Adebayo and the Afenifere Secretary-General, Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa would meet with the Fasoranti and Adebanjo to resolve the crisis.
But while Omololu asserted that a reconciliation meeting would be held at Fasoranti’s residence in Akure, an Afenifere chieftain and former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, said she was not aware of any meeting scheduled for Akure.
Omololu had said that the issues would soon be thrashed out, insisting that there was no crisis in the association.
He stated, “Baba never sacked the acting leader, Pa Adebanjo. The acting leader will still be the one calling the meeting and the meeting will still be held at the leader’s place”