The last may not have been heard on the crisis rocking the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, over the outcome of the 2023 presidential election held on February 25, 2023.
Following the claim by the acting leader of the mainstream Yoruba group, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, that no one should send congratulatory messages to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, under the Afenifere umbrella, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, has insisted that he is still the leader.
Recall that Fasoranti, a few days ago, in an open letter addressed to the President-elect, congratulated Tinubu on his victory at the poll, assuring him of the group`s total support.
In less than 24 hours, in a communiqué issued after a special general meeting held at the Isanya-Ogbo, Ogun State country home of Adebanjo, the group stated that Peter Obi of the Labour Party won the presidential election and not Tinubu, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A statement signed by the immediate past Secretary-General of the group, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, disclosed that with Fasoranti still alive, “the octogenarian is the leader of the apex Yoruba group, and as such, his pronouncement on any issue remains final on behalf of Afenifere.”
However, while emphasising that no one could foist Obi on the group, Arogbofa said: “Afenifere is made up of people with sound intellects and strong convictions but occasional divergent views.”
The statement reads: “Chief Dr. R. F. Fasolanti is still alive. According to Afenifele tradition, he is still the leader of the Afenifele. We reject it in keeping with our cherished Yoruba culture.It doesn't matter what other members say or do after we speak or act.
“Remember, in an interview on September 3, 2022, several members coerced Peter Obi to us as a presidential candidate and said that Afenifere members are not robots.
They are nevertheless united by the Society's welfare philosophy.
"While the consensus becomes their public position, those who disagree can express their views without necessarily expressing their opposition to the majority vote." is allowed to be maintained.
“Finally, when elections take place in 2023, many Afenifele members, including right-wing, conciliatory and impartial Yoruba ethnic groups belonging to the silent majority, said they would vote for Tinub.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Yemi Faronbi, Afenifere, Yoruba Elders Council (YCE) and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, spoke in one voice yesterday, defending Yoruba's interests and supporting the incoming president.
Recall that some Afenifele leaders said that the elections held by the Electoral Commission that led to Tinubu's victory were not credible. But some other elders in Acre said yesterday that they support Tinubu.
In response to this development, Dr. Faronbi said that Afenifere's original vision was to protect and plan for the interests of the Yoruba, while YCE, through its secretary-general, Chief Oladipo Oyewole, was declared the winner. , urged Afenifele to support Tinub, adding:
Faronbi said: Since the time of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the organization has always taken the interests of the Yoruba people as its highest priority. So it is unfortunate that at this point we are beginning to divide and say the opposite. Remember, Afenifere is the central voice. When Senator Abraham Adesanya was elected, he was elected spokesman for all of Yoruba…”
YCE Chief of Staff Oyewole said: in Nigeria. Some didn't want him. But once the results came out and the certificate of return was issued, all should have settled down..."
"On March 3, 2023, R.F. On behalf of us and himself, I have sent a very warm letter of congratulations to Senator Bora Ahmed Tinubu for his hard-fought victory. Afenifere says here: The oracle acted and spoke. People and groups who see things differently are free to do so because they are free to do so.