November 02,(THEWILL) – The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has erupted in crisis, as Pa. Ruben Fasoranti and Chief Ayo Adebanjo lay claim to the group’s leadership.
THEWILL reports that the crisis may not be unconnected to the recent endorsement of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), for the 2023 elections by its former leader, Pa. Fasoranti.
Pa Fasoranti, on Sunday, at a meeting in Ondo State, endorsed Tinubu’s Presidential bid; contrary to the earlier position of Adebanjo, who had announced the decision of Afenifere to back Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
Adebanjo, who explained his reasons for supporting Obi, had attributed it to the principle of equity and federal character.
Fasoranti, 96, stepped down as Afenifere leader in 2021 for Adebanjo, after expressing concerns about his ability to continue leading the group.
But in a dramatic twist on Tuesday, Pa. Fasoranti, who previously handed over the leadership to Ayo Adebanjo, insisted he remained the leader of the group, adding that the meetings of the socio-political organisation will henceforth be held in Akure, capital of Ondo State and that the leaders of the group will no longer converge on Isoya Ogbo, Ijebu home of Chief Ayo Adebanjo.
He also rejected the insinuations that he was paid to endorse Tinubu and insisted that the group never endorsed Obi for the 2023 presidential election.
But in a swift reaction to Fasoranti’s claim, Chief Adebanjo maintains that he remained the leader of Afenifere.
Speaking on Wednesday, during an interview with Daily Independent, Adebanjo, who laughed at Fasoranti’s statement, said they were waiting to see who would attend any Afenifere meeting in Akure, Pa Fasoranti’s hometown.
“No problem. Let them hold the meetings in Akure and see the number of people that will attend if he says people should not come.
“I am the leader of Afenifere. They are just trying to cause confusion and I won’t help them to do that”, he concluded.
