By Abiola Olawale
Afenifere, the pan Yoruba socio-political organization , has appointed lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi as its National Organising Secretary.
The appointment which was made official at a general meeting held at the residence of Pa Ayo Adebanjo in Isanya Igbo, Ogun State on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, has triggered reactions.
While some hail the move, others are of the view that the lawyer should not have been named as National organizing Secretary of the pan-Yoruba organization.
His appointment was officially announced in a detailed communique released following the outcome of meeting, which was jointly signed by the Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and the National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye.
The communique reads in part: “The General Meeting considered and approved the appointment of Barrister Dele Farotimi as the National Organising Secretary of Afenifere.”
In attendance at the meeting, presided over by the Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, were delegates from the six South West states, Kogi, and Kwara states, including former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Akerele.
Others present were Secretary-General Chief Sola Ebiseni, Chief Akin Osuntokun, Professor Akin Onigbinde, Elder Tola Mobolurin, Dr. Gbola Adetuji, and Olorogun Pop Ayo-Banjo.
The decision comes shortly after a defamation lawsuit against Farotimi by legal icon Aare Afe Babalola was withdrawn.
It would be recalled that Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, had initiated a legal suit against Farotimi over alleged defamatory remarks contained in his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
Farotimi was arraigned before an Ekiti State High Court in Ado-Ekiti, which granted him N30 million bail.
