Fasoranti says he is not contesting leadership of Afenifere with Chief Ayo Adebanjo
By Emma Ogbuehi
Elder statesman and senior chieftain of the Pan-Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has clarified that Chief Ayo Adebanjo, remained the group’s acting leader.
The clarification comes on the heels of conflicting media reportage of the current organogram of the organisation. Some media organisations had reported a break in the organisation, adding that Fasoranti had moved against Adebanjo, apparently for endorsing the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi against the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu had visited the Akure home of Fasoranti earlier in the week in which a picture where the Afenifere leader was praying for him, was interpreted as an endorsement of the group for his candidacy. But in a statement on Thursday, the elder statesman refuted reports of contesting the leadership of the organisation with Adebanjo.
In the release by his Personal Assistant, Adedapo Abiola, in Akure, the Ondo state capital, Pa Fasoranti said that the media reports were false.
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He also said that the meeting of the group would continue to be held at Chief Adebanjo’s country home, in Ogbo-ljebu.
The statement reads, “It has come to Papa R.F. Fasonranti’s knowledge that some sections of the media, especially the social media, have been ascribing to him false statements designed to cause confusion and polarize Afenifere.
“I have Papa’s permission to say that he has not said that Chief Ayo Adebanjo is no longer the acting leader of Afenifere or that all future Afenifere meetings should henceforth be held at his residence in Akure.
“Papa’s main concern is the interest of the Yoruba in the complex political situation in Nigeria.
“It is also his concern that Afenifere should survive in dignity and remain a purveyor of the interest of the Yoruba race.
“It is hoped that this information will be adequately circulated.”