There seems to be discordance tunes between the national leaders of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere as Pa Reuben Fasoranti, on Sunday endorsed the candidacy of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This is coming weeks after another national leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo had pitched his tent with the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, explaining that his choice was in line with the clamour for a president of Southeast extraction.
Meanwhile, in a breakaway from the initial declaration of Adebanjo, Fasoranti, who had stepped as the National Leader of the group for the former, while hosting Tinubu at his residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital, prayed for the APC presidential candidate.
During the visit, Fasoranti placed his hands on the head of Tinubu, praying for him as he begins campaigning for the 2023 presidential election.
Shortly after saying his prayers, Fasoranti declared, “Tinubu will win the election”.
While various prominent Yoruba leaders were present, Adebanjo and the Secretary-General of the association, Chief Sola Ebiseni, were not at the meeting.
Addressing journalist after the visit, Tinubu said he was in the Afenifere’s leader’s house to present his presidential action plan to the nonagenarian Yoruba leader.
Tinubu said he had earlier visited Chief Fasoranti before the presidential primary and the Afenifere prayed for him to win the election.
Tinubu said, “Baba has prayed for me and I said once I got it I will come back. I thank God Almighty that the dream of that time has come to reality. The battle was much. There are many of them that wanted Buhari to anoint another person but he (Buhari) said no. Some of the northern governors came together and resolved that it (power) has to go to South.
“One thing that is certain, no Yoruba men and women opposed this ticket. They support this ticket. I want to tell you that I will bring the trophy home. It is not just a Yoruba thing. It is a Nigeria project.
“The North proved to me that Nigeria can survive its unity. Some people want President Muhammadu Buhari to announce someone but the President said No. He insisted the process must go on democratically. The president said anyone that would mess up the APC process would see the other side of his eyes. He remained upright and saw to the process to the end.
“Northern APC Governors resolved that the Presidency must go to the South and especially South-West. Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Abdullahi Ganduje and others supported me to the end. The battle was tough and at a point I was in doubt. There were many rumours and I became confused of what to believe.”
