Tinubu: Fasoranti’s endorsement brew crisis in Afenifere

In a little over three months, millions of eligible voters in Nigeria will decide who takes over from President Muhammadu Buhari.

With 18 candidates vying for the exalted position, it is expected to be keenly contested as politicians play different cards to sway public opinion in their favour.

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One of such cards played in the build up to general elections is currying endorsements from respected individuals and organisations to lend credibility to the aspirations of the candidates involved.

The reported endorsement of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress by the leader of Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti and other Yoruba leaders has generated controversies. The South-West comprising Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo has 18.3 million registered voters, which is the second to the North-West which has 22.67 million registered voters.

The meeting at Pa Fasoranti’s residence in Akure was attended by former Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae; immediate past General Secretary of Afenifere, Chief Seinde Arogbofa and Yoruba leaders from the six states in the zone as well as Kwara and Kogi.

The roll-call of the Yoruba leaders in Akure also include Retired Methodist Bishop, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu; Chief Pius Akinyelure; Professor Isaac Adewole; Otunba Gbenga Daniel; General Alani Akinrinade; General Olu Bajowa; Mr. Sola Iji; Dr Kunle Olajide; General Secretary of Yoruba Council of Elders, Senator Cornelius Adebayo; Senator Iyiola Omisore; Chief Bisi Akande; Dare Babarinsa; Deputy governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal who represented Governor Seyi Makinde. Others were Chief Segun Adesegun, representing former Governor Segun Osoba; Senator Tony Adefuye; Senator Dayo Adeyeye; State leaders of Afenifere and many others.

Meeting not convened by Afenifere or Fasoranti

However, Daily Trust on Sunday can report that the meeting was not convened by either Pa Fasoranti or Afenifere. It was convened by a group known as Conscience of Yoruba Nation (COYN).

The invitation letter for the meeting printed on the letterhead of COYN and titled ‘Meeting with Yoruba leadership,’ was signed by the Director General of COYN, Abagun Kole Omololu and Dare Babarinsa.

The letter which noted that Pa Fasoranti agreed to host and preside over the meeting, said the focus was “to discuss the historic 2023 general elections and guide the Yoruba people of Nigeria to take a definite and wise decision in the overall interest of posterity and also, an interaction with one of the leading candidates, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The DG of COYN, Abagun Omololu, who was a former chairman of Afenifere United Kingdom, is the current National Organising Secretary of the Pan-Yoruba group. However, the communique issued at the end of the meeting by Omololu was titled ‘Statement of Afenifere on the visit of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu to Pa Reuben Fasoranti in his Akure Home.’  There was no mention of COYN in it.

Daily Trust on Sunday also observed that Omololu was the only executive member of Afenifere, who was identified at Pa Fasoranti’s residence. Although, it was learnt that another serving exco was at the meeting.

However, in an interview with Daily Trust, while admitting that COYN convened the meeting, Abagun Omololu maintained that those in attendance represented the leaders of Afenifere.

“COYN is an offshoot of Afenifere of which I am the convener. Is Papa Falae not Afenifere? What of Gen Akinrinade and Archbishop Ladigbolu, who was an active member of the Action Group? Is Chief Adebayo who won election under UPN not Afenifere? That meeting was attended by Afenifere and Yoruba leaders from all the states, including Kogi and Kwara. Who is more Afenifere than Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa, the immediate past Secretary General of Afenifere?” he said.

Old age, Adebanjo’s insistence on Obi

Some chieftains of Afenifere disclosed that the organisers of the event took advantage of Pa Fasoranti’s old age to secure his blessings. It was learnt that at no time in the previous communication with the nonagenarian was it mentioned that the meeting will discuss the endorsement of Tinubu or any other candidate.

A senior member of Afenifere who does not want his name in print said Pa Fasoranti was deceived by COYN and Tinubu’s supporters to get his blessings.

“There is no record of where Baba Fasoranti or even Chief Olu Falae openly endorsed Tinubu or said that Afenifere endorses him. As an elder statesman, Pa Fasoranti blessed him which he will do for any other candidate that visits him,” he said.

However, he said, the lacuna in the group was created by the insistence of the acting leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, on endorsing Peter Obi of Labour Party. It was gathered that Pa Adebanjo overrides dissenting voices within the group. This led to opposition and grumbling within its ranks, though the discussion of endorsing a presidential candidate was first raised at the meeting of the group on July 29 2021.

In earlier interviews, a member of the national caucus of Afenifere, Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo, and the Secretary General of the group, Sola Ebiseni, admitted that there were oppositions to the endorsement of Obi but they maintained that the decision was reached on the basis of equity, true federalism, inclusiveness, justice and representation of all ethnic groups in the country.

They argued that if Afenifere wanted to be selfish, it would have endorsed a candidate from the zone.

“It is self-evident what we are doing. If you want it to be about those who think about ethnicity, then of course, we are not going to be true to ourselves. We won’t be different from those perpetuating themselves in office, we are not going to be different from those who have a sense of entitlement. We are talking of federal character which is to bring unity,” Adejumo said in the interview.

Adebanjo said supporting Obi is the group’s way of ensuring that Afenifere contributes to shaping Nigeria into a federation “where no person or ethnic nationality is oppressed.” He said from the three zones in the South, only the South East has not produced either the President or Vice President since the return of democracy in 1999.

However, some members said Pa Adebanjo didn’t give presidential candidates the opportunities to present their programmes before Obi was adopted. And that he was nursing personal grievances against Tinubu.

“There were objections to the endorsement of Obi but Baba (Adebanjo) felt strongly about it. He is a patriotic leader, making efforts to save Yoruba name in the future but if he had consulted all the leaders, there wouldn’t be this unnecessary rancour.

“The endorsement was discussed but people didn’t like it but out of respect for the acting leader, nobody wanted to come out to challenge him. Where is the communique of the general meeting that Afenifere endorsed Obi? It was imposed, the followers were not happy,” noted one of the chieftains who opposed Obi’s endorsement.

Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that Pa Adebanjo didn’t consult other influential leaders of the group including Pa Fasoranti, Chief Falae, Chief Adebayo, Basorun Arogbofa and Senator Femi Okurounmu before endorsing Obi.

“Nobody dares challenge Afenifere leaders once they take a decision but the hallmark of Afenifere is built on consultation. Once the national leaders are consulted and they take a decision, nobody dare challenge their decision but Baba Adebanjo himself said he didn’t consult Pa Fasoranti before endorsing Obi,” added Abagun Omololu, who maintained that he has been active members of the group for over 30 years.

He also denied allegations that he facilitated Tinubu’s endorsement for monetary benefits.

“I grew up abroad, I spent 32 years abroad. I have never met Asiwaju one on one before Akure’s meeting. I was to meet him during Gov Gbenga Daniel’s first term in 2003. I was with Gov. Daniel but I refused to meet him because of the issue between Asiwaju and Afenifere then. I think he attended our meeting at Jibowu once but I am sure he didn’t recognise me then. He might know me by name as chairman, Afenifere, UK,” he said.

The tussle over Afenifere leadership

There have also been arguments over who is the leader of Afenifere. The controversy was escalated by a viral video in which Pa Fasoranti allegedly berated Pa Adebanjo’s decision to endorse Obi.

However, a careful observation revealed that the video had been tampered with before it was uploaded on the internet.

Daily Trust on Sunday learnt from one of the leaders of Afenifere that the decision of Pa Fasoranti to step down as the national leader of the group in March 2021, citing old age and announcing Adebanjo as acting leader is not new.

“Afenifere leadership is monarchical in nature. If a king does not die, another one does not assume the throne. Right from the days of Baba Ajasin (Adekunle), we have been having acting leaders. Baba Adesanya (Abraham) was acting during Baba Ajasin days due to old age. Meetings were still held at Baba Ajasin’s house until his demise when Baba Adesanya took over in full capacity. When Baba Adesanya was sick, he chose Baba Fasoranti to be acting leader. We were holding meetings at Ijebu Igbo and at our office at Jibowu. Meeting shifted to Akure when Baba died. There can be an acting leader and deputy leader but it doesn’t change anything until his death. It was Baba Omojola that raised the resolution for Baba Fasoranti to be confirmed leader after Baba Adesanya demise. Baba Adebanjo will remain acting leader until Baba Fasoranti’s demise,” he said.

Adebanjo still Afenifere’s acting leader – Fasoranti

However, Pa Fasoranti has said that he never stopped Pa Adebanjo from being the acting leader of the group.

In a statement issued on Thursday through his Personal Assistant, Mr Adedapo Abiola, in Akure, Fasoranti said some sections of the media’s report was untrue on the matter.

“It has come to Papa Reuben 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 polarise Afenifere.

“I have Papa’s permission to say that he has not said Chief Ayo Adebanjo is no longer the acting leader of Afenifere nor 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.”