A Yoruba socio-political group, Yoruba Council Worldwide (Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye), has flayed one of the National leaders of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, accusing him of dividing the Yoruba race with his support for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
The New Diplomat reports that there seems to be a divide in Afenifere following the endorsement of presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, by another leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, at his residence in Akure, Ondo State, on Sunday.
The endorsement is being seen as a counter move by Fasoranti as Adebanjo had earlier endorsed Obi.
Reacting to the development, President, Yoruba Council Worldwide, Aare Barr Oladotun Hassan, in a statement said Adebanjo’s endorsement of Obi as against Tinubu is a reflection of primordial sentiments which, according to him, dates back to the NADECO days and its feud with Alliance for Democracy.
Hassan further called on the Yorubas to ignore the crisis in Afenifere, saying Tinubu is the best candidate in the forthcoming election.
The statement reads, “In the face of diehard need to salvage Nigeria through the Renewed Hope 23 Bola Tinubu led Presidential Agenda from imminent collapse as we approach the 2023 Presidential election, perharps in the face of looming dangers of coordinated attacks by some power thirsty hyenas acting a premeditated script of deliberately frustrating and eventually upturning the scale of power shift from the North to the South.
“One will be surprised to witness aftermath of the well attended endorsement and prayer session led our most respected elder-stateman and Yoruba Leader: Pa Reuben Fasoranti led supreme body of the Afenifere for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s Presidential ambition on 30th October, 2022 in the ancient city of Akure, Ondo State, wherein choruses of the Oodua anthem renditions was sang to the high heavens and prayer supplications was offered to God Almighty to grant Asiwaju presidency come 25th February, 2023 election.
“Regrettably, we saw rain of media terror by some self-inflicted power drunk Old horses filled to the brim with stagnated arrogance and illusion, and as earlier posited during my Sunrise Daily Channels live Tv interview squared up with Chief Gboyega Adejumo where I reiterated that Pa Ayo Adebanjo’s led Afenifere now merged with Ohaneze Ndigbo to form “Ohanezefere” where they jointly endorsed Peter Obi of Labour Party, truly defines their eternal hatred, backslide and total deviation from the late Sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s enthroned positive vision and Omoluabi ethos.
“Painfully, this is a true reflection of their primordial sentiments laced with Margots of hatred for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, date back from the NADECO days to Alliance for Democracy feud, now erroneously manifesting as a transferred malice and anger of jealousy.
“Historically, Chief Awolowo was demolished politically from within, while the outsiders just collected a “pass” from his kinsmen, to injure his ambition.
“When he survived that, it was another kinsman that ‘strangled’ him politically, to favour someone else, hence predictably thus far this Chief Adejumo and Pa Ayo Adebanjo’s blinded deceits under the yoke of South Eastern “Obidatti” support against Southwest led Tinubu Presidency unending evil scenario is a repetition of Awolowo’s debacle.
“Haven’t we somersaulted enough, as a race, to pause and learn some lesson?
“Let’s leave whoever wishes, to workout his luck. What is more, he who you call an ingrate for what you claim he did, years ago, may have learnt his own lessons too!
“Man is too complex in nature, to be so easily written off!
We can not reasonably and successfully fight the cause of Yoruba, by internally burning out “the only palm fruit in the fire”!
“Based on this premise, with the ordained answered prayers by God Almighty, we unanimously endorse and reaffirm the totality of the Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye ALONGSIDE all true Omoluabi and desciples of Awolowo to continually rally supports and prayers for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima Presidential election come 2023.
“We believe based on the expected renewed hope 23′ vision ,being a rijiged MKO Abiola’s Hope 93′ mandate and indomitable vision, better suitable and best connected to meeting the yearnings, wishes and aspirations of all Nigerians at this critical points in time to rescue Nigeria.
“Let us hold on to give it our all, for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the right answer.”
