The decision by Afenifere leader, Reuben Fasoranti, to withdraw his letter of resignation from his post, may have gone a long way in saving the organisation and the Yoruba an internal strife that would have worked against internal harmony in the ethnic group, Assistant Editor (South West), MUYIWA OLALEYE, reports.
Among Nigeria’s six geo-political zones, the Yoruba are known for holding on to their culture and tradition, tenaciously. They also hold on to specific agenda at a time, even when pursuing same on different political platforms. Over time, Afenifere, the group’s apex socio-political organisation, has provided this direction.
It thus came to many as a surprise last month when Reuben Fasoranti, the leader of Afenifere, resigned his position, citing many reasons for the action. While some chieftains of the organisation suspected that the action might have been occasioned by his advancing age, there were yet many who swore that the resignation had political undertone. Whatever the interpretation that trailed Fasoranti’s action, senior members of Afenifere, instantly moved in to save the situation.
The move, our reporter learnt, saw the concerned chieftains of the association summoning emergency meetings among the Yoruba leaders for a way forward. The essence of the meeting, it was further learnt, was to guard against a development that may work against the organisation that had served as a rallying point for various interest groups in Yoruba land.
Evolution of Afenifere
Afenifere was formed in 1951 as a pan-Yoruba organisation serving as a unifying factor for all Yoruba sons and daughters even before the country’s political independence. Led at formation by the Premier of the defunct Western Region, Obafemi Awolowo, the body has defined the focus, direction and entire agenda of the Yoruba race within the context of the Nigerian federation.
Like any major organisations with well-defined structure and goal, Afenifere has had its glorious moments and occasional challenges. Conscious of the onerous task before them, the leaders have consistently sustained the cardinal principles, aims and objectives of the organisation. They have never allowed seeming challenges to overcome them or derail the overall goal of the Afenifere in promoting the cause of the Yoruba in all ramifications for the over six decades that it had been in existence.
The influence of the organisation is beyond the confines of the Yoruba nation. Other ethnic groups see it as the conscience of the race, thus they use its activities to gauge the pulse of the Yoruba nation on crucial national issues.
It is, therefore, not a surprise that the leadership of other ethnic-based organisations such as the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Ohanaeze Ndigbo attach great importance to the position of Afenifere on matters of national importance.
Throwing in the towel
It was on account of this towering profile of the organisation that members were caught napping when Fasoranti announced that he was voluntarily resigning from his exalted post.
Fasoranti became the leader of the group some years ago, following the death of Abraham Adesanya. He premised his resignation on old age. Besides, he decried perceived erosion of the common focus and goals of the organisation, which he claimed made it difficult for members of the group to work in unity.
In his letter of resignation, Fasoranti delved into the formation of Afenifere, its leadership and other issues surrounding the organisation, especially during the last general election in the country.
His letter was addressed to the Secretary-General, Seinde Arogbofa, and other eminent persons in the group, including Ayo Adebanjo, Olanihun Ajayi, Olu Falae, Supo Sonibare and all state chairmen of Afenifere. Fasoranti gave a brief history of the group from its formation in 1951 under the leadership of Awolowo.
The letter read: “Our organisation, Afenifere, was formed in 1951 under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The organisation was formed to serve as an umbrella to be used to actualise the dream of a great nation and the Yoruba race.
“Over the years, the Yoruba have tried to focus on a common goal. Awolowo tried to ensure the oneness of our people with a lot of efforts notwithstanding the challenges he faced in the process. Unfortunately, he passed on without actualising this dream.
“I joined Afenifere from inception with the following leaders of our race: Pa Onasanya, Ganiyu Daodu, Abraham Adesanya, Ayo Adebanjo, Sir Olanihun Ajayi, Sam Sonibare, Bola Ige, Wunmi Adegbonmire, and so on.
“The mantle of leadership fell on the late Adekunle Ajasin and subsequently Adesanya and then my humble self. As events have been unfolding in the past few years, the focus and goals of the founding fathers of our great organisation, Afenifere, were gradually eroded.
“This therefore made it Herculean task for our members to work in unity. Several efforts were made to ensure the actualisation of the Afenifere goals, but it appeared that we have not succeeded in achieving this. This is basically due to reasons best known to our members individually.
“Considering my age, efforts and selfless dedication to my country, my state (Ondo), my political parties, my past leaders and my members in Afenifere both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, I hereby wish to inform you all that I have decided to step aside as leader of our great organisation, Afenifere.”
The resignation of the octogenarian did not only come as a shock and surprise to members of the Afenifere family, but also showed that all might not be well within the foremost Yoruba organisation.
Consequently, leadership of the group quickly convened a meeting to appropriately act on the letter and the attendant issues, given the prime place of Afenifere in the South West and indeed the country.
Treading on familiar path
Though jolted by the resignation, Arogbofa said there was nothing extraordinary in the action of their leader, as it was not the first time any of the leaders would be stepping aside. But he ruled out disloyalty for the action.
His words: “Afenifere has so far had four leaders: from Pa Obafemi Awolowo to the late Pa Adekunle Ajasin to Pa Abraham Adesanya and Pa Reuben Fasoranti. So, the stepping aside of Pa Fasoranti has precedent. Others also stepped aside because of old age.”
Between group interest and party politics
It should be noted that the issue of party politics had tried to divide the organisation in the past. While some elements said it should be a socio-cultural organisation, others insisted that it could not completely be divorced from party politics because of the collective interest of the Yoruba race. It was in the midst of the controversy that a splinter group called Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) emerged.
Speaking with TheNiche on the development, a top shot of the 64-year-old organisation insinuated that Fasoranti’s resignation might have been informed by activities of a few individuals in the gradual build-up to the 2019 general election. The source alleged that a few members of the group were romancing with some notable politicians ostensibly to use Afenifere as a platform to raise a third force ahead of the 2019 election.
Apparently uncomfortable with the surreptitious move which he considered antithetical to the Afenifere ideals, Fasoranti threw in the towel, insisting that the body was not a partisan platform but one formed to serve as an umbrella in actualising the dream of a greater Yoruba nation.
According to the source, ARG, which was formed and sponsored by a section of the political class in the South West in 2008, was meant to primarily destabilise and destroy the ‘real’ Afenifere.
He lauded leaders of the Afenifere, including Fasoranti, Adebanjo, Ajayi, Falae, Sonibare and Arogbofa who have remained focused and resolute in keeping the flag of the group flying.
Further analysing the matters surrounding the resignation of Fasoranti, the source spoke on the insinuation of disloyalty contained in the said letter. He alleged that the action of the Afenifere leader should be seen beyond the issue of age which was cited as an excuse by the octogenarian for stepping aside. He explained that Fasoranti, even at his ripe age, remains the strong pillar and unifying force to the group.
Fasoranti, he added, was not happy that some Afenifere leaders no longer honour invitation to attend the group’s meeting in Akure.
Though Fasoranti is said to have toyed with the idea of quitting his position over time, it was learnt that leading lights in Afenifere, including Adebanjo, Ajayi and Falae had encouraged him to continue to provide the necessary leadership to the group. But the octogenarian reportedly came under pressure from his children to step aside. He had also reportedly drawn the attention of the leaders on statements on behalf of the group by some members without clearance from him.
In search of understanding
Not wanting the confusion to tear the group apart, Afenifere leaders converged in Akure, Ondo State capital, the country home of Fasoranti, penultimate Wednesday, for the emergency meeting amid speculation that a new leader of the group might emerge at the end of the session. The leaders took a painstaking look at all issues triggered by the resignation. All the leaders spoke frankly and without equivocation, at the end of which the leadership unanimously rejected the resignation of the chairman and prevailed on him to continue to steer the ship of the Afenifere.
The volte face
On his part, Fasoranti rescinded his earlier decision after the leaders at the meeting had promised to always support him in repositioning the group in a bid to achieve its set vision and goals.
Notable leaders of the Yoruba nation at the meeting included Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Adebanjo, Falae, Sonibare, Arogbofa, Korede Duyile, among other 23 leaders from across the South West, who passed vote of confidence on Fasoranti.
Afenifere spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin, gave a vivid account of the decisions of the leaders at the closed-door meeting.
He read the communique of the meeting which stated: “The meeting resolved to urge him to continue as the leader of Afenifere, and Baba (Fasoranti) has agreed to withdraw his resignation letter and continue as our leader. The good news is that Baba has withdrawn his decision to step aside. The meeting also appreciated the selfless, dedicated and exemplary leadership Chief Reuben Fasoranti had given to the group since he became the acting leader in 2004 and later the leader of the group.
“We took cognisance that he took leadership at the most challenging period of the organisation and the country and despite his old age, he has discharged his duties creditably and has been a stabilising force.
“The meeting, therefore, unanimously resolved to reject his offer to step aside as leader and pleaded with him to tarry and carry on his great responsibilities as leader of Afenifere and to ensure that the orderly succession of Afenifere is not disrupted under him.”
He stressed that after listening to the whole meeting, Fasoranti graciously accepted and withdrew the offer of resignation and to continue his leadership of the group and also to see it through plans of re-organisation, re-invigoration, mobilisation and re- launch of Afenifere in Yoruba land, Nigeria and in the Diaspora.
Odumakin maintained that there was no crack in the Afenifere family, thus, dismissing the issue of disunity that had been speculated as the bane of the organisation. He added that the leadership of the group would continue to uphold the ideals of its founding fathers. “We want to state that there is no crack in Afenifere and the House of Oduduwa. We remain committed to the great ideals of our founding fathers and we are forging ahead,” Odumakin stressed.
Fasoranti, while confirming withdrawal of his letter of resignation, expressed his decision to abide by the resolution of the leadership of Afenifere and his desire to move the race forward in consonance with the objective of the founding fathers of the group.
With the bold steps taken by the group to nip in the bud the controversy triggered by Fasoranti’s resignation, supporters of Afenifere enthuse that the leadership has again exhibited maturity and placed itself above board even in the face of crisis.